4:30 pm – just spoke to the PIO on this fire, Jim, and he let me know that they were taking aDVANTAGE OF THE GOOD FLYING WEATHER TO BRING IN THE VLAT AND PRETREAT THE CONTAINMENT LINE FROM COLD SPRINGS TO ANDERSON PEAK, SO THEY CAN FIRE OFF WHEN IT IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO DO SO.

8:15 am –

Soberanes Fire
Los Padres National Forest Service
August 24, 2016

DAILY UPDATE

Fire Information Phone (831)204-0446
soberanesfire2016@gmail.com
Media Line: (831)484-9647
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4888/
http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1348

Incident: The Soberanes Fire was started by an Illegal campfire on the morning of July 22, 2016, in the Garrapta State Park. The fire is burning in areas of previous large fires including the Basin Complex in 2008 and the Marble-Cone Fire in 1977.
Location: Los Padres National Forest, Ventana Wilderness, Monterey County, CA
Agency Jurisdiction: CAL FIRE San Benito-Monterey Unit/Los Padres National Forest

Current Size: 88654 (51,460 CA-LPF, 37,194 CAL FIRE,) Containment: 60% Cause: Illegal campfire
Injuries: 1 fatality, 4 injuries Structures Destroyed: 57 homes, 11 outbuildings Structures Threatened: 410
Current Resources: Crews: 20 Engines: 54 Helicopters: 12 Dozers: 22 Water Tenders: 42
Total Personnel: 1,620

Fire Restrictions: Forest Order 05-07-16-15 Fire Use Restrictions – Level IV Fire Restrictions. This Order is effective from August 23, 2016, through the end of the official 2016 fire season.

Community Meeting: A community meeting will be held at the Cachagua General Store, located at 18840 Cachagua Road, Carmel Valley, CA on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 6:00 P.M.

Current Situation: The fire continues to move south and east of Miller Mountain in Hiding Camp Canyon, and farther south near the Ventana Cones. It has crossed Big Sur drainage below Mount Olmstead and remains within containment lines. Tomorrow’s marine layer is predicted to burn off mid-morning. This will produce the warmest temperatures of the week. Due to decreased humidity recovery through the night and drought conditions, fire behavior is expected to increase making aggressive runs up hill in the fire area. At present the fire is not expected to threaten the containment lines along Tassajara Road to the East or along Coast Ridge Road to the West.

The fire’s slow progress southward around Logwood Ridge is allowing firefighters to delay their tactical firing operations. Firing operations are only conducted when weather and conditions allow for its safe and effective use. Firefighters continue to widen and improve indirect containment lines east from Anderson peak to Santa Lucia Memorial Park and northward to Arroyo Seco. A Structure Protection Group has been formed to continue to assess and improve fire protection of structures within the projected growth of the fire.

Fire line repair continues in the Carmel Zone fire areas.

Wilderness Tactics: To reduce the impacts associated with fire suppression activities in wilderness areas, fire managers and firefighting crews continue using Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics as much as possible. The steep, rugged terrain of the Ventana Wilderness is inherently treacherous to firefighters. Most direct fireline is being constructed near the perimeter in areas that have been pretreated and supported by aircraft. The inaccessibility into the Ventana Wilderness along much of the fire’s east side continually requires patience, and slow and steady hard work from the crews, as they look for options to construct direct line.

The fire was caused by an illegal, unattended campfire on the Soberanes Canyon trail in the Garrapata State Park. Anyone with information is asked to call the CAL FIRE Tip Line at: (800) 468-4408. Fire managers want to remind the public that human caused fires are preventable. Please be aware of current fire restrictions and be careful with anything that could spark a fire.

US Forest Service Road and Trail Closures: A forest closure order has been implemented to close the trails and roads within the Los Padres National Forest, Monterey Ranger District pursuant to USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50(a). The order prohibits going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Soberanes Fire area. For a complete list of closures please visit: http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf . The following sites are open: Pfeiffer Beach Day Use, Mill Creek Day Use, Willow Creek Day Use, Sand Dollar Day Use, Kirk Creek Campground, Nacimiento Campground, Ponderosa Campground and Plaskett Creek Campground.

California State Park Closures: All California State Parks from Garrapata State Park through Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park are closed until further notice; this includes Point Sur State Historic Park (Lighthouse), Andrew Molera State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground and Day Use.

Evacuation Orders and Warnings: An evacuation ORDER remains in effect for Coast Ridge Rd. from mile marker 1.5 to Marble Peak at the end of the road. A WARNING remains for Tassajara Road from Carmel Valley Road to the Tassajara Hot Springs Zen Center. This area includes all roads that lead from the above described roads.

Donations: Local relief efforts to the fire victims have been provided by the Coast Property Owners Association (CPOA) and the Community Foundation for Monterey County. Donations can be made to the CPOA at Coast Property Owners Association, PO Box 59, Big Sur, CA 93920 or the Community Foundation for Monterey County, 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940 (831)375-9712.

The Red Cross prepares for, responds to, and helps people recover from disasters big and small. To donate, people can visit redcross.org/donate/, call 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. For any unmet disaster related needs, please call their 24 hour hotline at 1.866.272.2237.

Additional Cooperating and Assisting Organizations: California State Parks and Recreation, California Highway Patrol California Office of Emergency Services , California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, California National Guard, Big Sur Land Trust, California Department of Transportation, California National Guard, California Fish & Wildlife, Coast Property Owners Association (CPOA), Community Foundation for Monterey County, Bureau of Land Management, American Red Cross, County of Monterey, Pacific Gas and Electric, Carmel Highlands F.P.D., Monterey County Regional Fire Protection District, Mid Coast Volunteer Fire Brigade, Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Cachagua Fire Protection District.

####

7:00 am – And here are two photos of the burn out operation at Mt. Olmstead:

Above photo by Soaring

Above photo by Tommy McDonald

6:30 am – here are the maps. I have a couple good photos of the burn operation yesterday afternoon that I will add as soon as I get the maps up for the Chimney Fire.

the IR Topo Map and Link:

IR Top Map Link to PDF

So Ops Map link to PDF

 

1:30 pm – Firing Operation resumes today, still in Cold Springs area. Photo by Jeffrey Carmichael.

8:00 am –

Soberanes Fire
Los Padres National Forest Service
August 23, 2016

DAILY UPDATE

Fire Information Phone (831)204-0446
Media Line: (831)484-9647
Email: soberanesfire2016@gmail.com
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4888/
http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1348

Incident: The Soberanes Fire was started by an Illegal campfire on the morning of July 22, 2016, in the Garrapta State Park. The fire is burning in areas of previous large fires including the Basin Complex in 2008 and the Marble-Cone Fire in 1977.
Location: Los Padres National Forest, Ventana Wilderness, Monterey County, CA
Agency Jurisdiction: CAL FIRE San Benito-Monterey Unit/Los Padres National Forest

Current Size: 87,316 acres (50,122 CA-LPF, 37,194 CAL FIRE,) Containment: 60% Cause: Illegal campfire
Injuries: 1 fatality, 4 injuries Structures Destroyed: 57 homes, 11 outbuildings Structures Threatened: 410
Current Resources: Crews: 32 Engines: 60 Helicopters: 12 Dozers: 27 Water Tenders: 45
Total Personnel: 1,988

Community Meeting: A community meeting will be held at the Cachagua General Store, located at 18840 Cachagua Road, Carmel Valley, CA on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 6:00 P.M.

Current Situation: The fire continues to slowly move south and east of Miller Mountain in Hiding Camp Canyon, and farther south near the Ventana Cones. Fire behavior remains a slow backing and flanking fire through an eight year old fuel bed of grass, brush and timber litter. Near the coast range, the fire continues to flank southward in the Big Sur drainage below Mount Olmstead. Aircraft was utilized yesterday to cool and slow the southward progression of the fire. At present, there is no threat to the completed indirect containment lines along Tassajara Road to the east nor along Coast Ridge Road to the west.

Firing operations have not occurred for several days. The fire’s slow progress southward around Logwood Ridge is allowing firefighters to delay their tactical firing operations. These firing operations allow firefighters safer conditions while creating containment lines east of Coast Ridge Road. Firing operations are only conducted when weather and conditions allow for safe and effective operations. Firefighters continue to widen and improve indirect containment lines east from Anderson peak to Santa Lucia Memorial Park and northward to Arroyo Seco. These indirect lines are built on the ridges that stopped the Basin Complex of 2008.

California Interagency Incident Management Team Three, CAL FIRE and cooperators wish to thank the California National Guard for their contributions and support of the team efforts on the Soberanes Fire.

Wilderness Tactics: To reduce the impacts associated with fire suppression activities in wilderness areas, fire managers and firefighting crews continue using Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics as much as possible. The steep, rugged terrain of the Ventana Wilderness is inherently treacherous to firefighters. Most direct fireline is being constructed near the perimeter in areas that have been pretreated and supported by aircraft. The inaccessibility into the Ventana Wilderness along much of the fire’s east side continually requires patience, and slow and steady hard work from the crews, as they look for options to construct direct line.

The fire was caused by an illegal, unattended campfire on the Soberanes Canyon trail in the Garrapata State Park. Anyone with information is asked to call the CAL FIRE Tip Line at: (800) 468-4408. Fire managers want to remind the public that human caused fires are preventable. Please be aware of current fire restrictions and be careful with anything that could spark a fire.

US Forest Service Road and Trail Closures: A forest closure order has been implemented to close the trails and roads within the Los Padres National Forest, Monterey Ranger District pursuant to USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50(a). The order prohibits going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Soberanes Fire area. For a complete list of closures please visit: http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf . The following sites are open: Pfeiffer Beach Day Use, Mill Creek Day Use, Willow Creek Day Use, Sand Dollar Day Use, Kirk Creek Campground, Nacimiento Campground, Ponderosa Campground and Plaskett Creek Campground.

California State Park Closures: All California State Parks from Garrapata State Park through Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park are closed until further notice; this includes Point Sur State Historic Park (Lighthouse), Andrew Molera State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground and Day Use.

Evacuation Orders: An evacuation ORDER remains in effect for Coast Ridge Rd. from mile marker 1.5 to Marble Peak at the end of the road.

Evacuation Warnings: A WARNING remains for Tassajara Road from Carmel Valley Road to the Tassajara Hot Springs Zen Center. This area includes all roads that lead from the above described roads.

Donations: Local relief efforts to the fire victims have been provided by the Coast Property Owners Association (CPOA) and the Community Foundation for Monterey County. Donations can be made to the CPOA at Coast Property Owners Association, PO Box 59, Big Sur, CA 93920 or the Community Foundation for Monterey County, 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940 (831)375-9712.

The Red Cross prepares for, responds to, and helps people recover from disasters big and small. To donate, people can visit redcross.org/donate/, call 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. For any unmet disaster related needs, please call their 24 hour hotline at 1.866.272.2237.

Additional Cooperating and Assisting Organizations: California State Parks and Recreation, California Highway Patrol California Office of Emergency Services , California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, California National Guard, Big Sur Land Trust, California Department of Transportation, California National Guard, California Fish & Wildlife, Coast Property Owners Association (CPOA), Community Foundation for Monterey County, Bureau of Land Management, American Red Cross, County of Monterey, Pacific Gas and Electric, Carmel Highlands F.P.D., Monterey County Regional Fire Protection District, Mid Coast Volunteer Fire Brigade, Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Cachagua Fire Protection District.
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.

7:15 am – John Chesnut’s Map:

7:00 am – Here is a aborted water drop last night near Lower Stone Ridge after a bucket at Rancho Grande, Photo by Jane Magida (the bucket got tangled in the pick up)

6:30 am – Here are a couple of the maps and their links:

Topo PDF map link

So Ops PDF Map Link

5:15 pm –

Pfeiffer Beach opened this morning at 10:00 AM and will be on its regular schedule, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.

Here’s the rundown of State Park closures / expected reopenings:

-The West side of Garrapata has been open during the fire and remains open. East of the highway the park will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
– Point Sur Light Station SHP is scheduled to reopen this weekend with normal hours.
– Andrew Molera SP will remain in use as a Fire Camp for the foreseeable future.
– Pfeiffer Big Sur SP will remain closed at least through Sept 5th. The Fire Camp is currently moving out, and Parks has begun necessary work to reopen. We have not set a date yet, and expect the work to take at least 2 to 3 weeks.
– Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP is targeted for a partial reopening Thursday the 25th, which will include the parking lot and trails west of Highway 1. The eastern trails will remain closed.

Thank You,

Eric Abma
California State Parks
Deputy District Superintendent (Acting)

3:30 pm – Helicopters flying from Andrew Molera by Jen Smith

10:00 am – Status Report
August 22, 2016
DAILY UPDATE
Fire Information Phone (831)204-0446 soberanesfire2016@gmail.com
Media Line: (831)484-9647
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4888/
http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1348

Incident: The Soberanes Fire was started by an Illegal campfire on the morning of July 22, 2016, in the Garrapta State Park. The fire is burning in areas of previous large fires including the Basin Complex in 2008 and the Marble-Cone Fire in 1977.
Location: Los Padres National Forest, Ventana Wilderness, Monterey County, CA
Agency Jurisdiction: CAL FIRE San Benito-Monterey Unit/Los Padres National Forest
Additional Cooperating and Assisting Organizations: CA State Parks and Recreation, CHP, CAL-OES, CDCR, CA National Guard, Big Sur Land Trust, CAL-TRANS, CCC, CA Fish & Wildlife, Coast Property Owners Association (CPOA), Community Foundation for Monterey County, BLM, American Red Cross, the County of Monterey, PG&E, Carmel Highlands F.P.D., Monterey County Regional Fire Protection District, Mid Coast Volunteer Fire Brigade, Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Cachagua Fire Protection District.

Current Size: 86,294 acres (49,100 CA-LPF, 37,194 CAL FIRE,) Containment: 60% Cause: Illegal campfire
Injuries: 1 fatality, 3 injuries Structures Destroyed: 57 homes, 11 outbuildings Structures Threatened: 410
Current Resources: Crews: 34 Engines: 60 Helicopters: 13 Dozers: 29 Water Tenders: 29
Total Personnel: 2109

Current Situation: Today marks day thirty of the Soberanes Fire. Nominal growth occurred the last twenty four hours of 1,082 acres. The fire continues to slowly burn interior islands with heavier fuels within the Ventana Wilderness portions of the fire. No movement outside the fireline is expected in this area. Crews continue to patrol and extinguish hot spots with their primary focus on suppression repair.

On the east side, the fire advanced towards Miller Mountain and Ventana Cone. Firefighters continue to prepare and reinforce contingency lines from the Los Padres Reservoir to Chews Ridge. Lines are also being strengthened from Arroyo Seco south to Santa Lucia Memorial Park. Crew have provided enhanced protection measures to structures within the predicted path of the Soberanes Fire in the Ventana Wilderness.

Near the Big Sur area, no firing operations occured yesterday but may occur today if conditions are favorable. Aircraft was utilized yesterday to slow the southward progression of the fire. Most of the fire activity occurred east of Barlow Camp and west of Redwood Creek Camp, flanking to the south in the Big Sur River drainage area. The fire is established on Logwood Ridge. Crews are working hard to reinforce hand-line along portions of Logwood Ridge where possible.

Wilderness Tactics: To reduce the impacts associated with fire suppression activities in wilderness areas, fire managers and firefighting crews continue using MIST (Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics) as much as possible. The steep, rugged terrain of the Ventana Wilderness is inherently treacherous to firefighters. Most direct fireline is being constructed near the perimeter in areas that have been pretreated and supported by aircraft. The inaccessibility into the Ventana Wilderness along much of the fire’s east side continually requires patience, and slow and steady hard work from the crews, as they look for options to construct direct line.

The fire was caused by an illegal, unattended campfire on the Soberanes Canyon trail in the Garrapata State Park. Anyone with information is asked to call the CAL FIRE Tip Line at: (800) 468-4408.

Fire managers want to remind the public that human caused fires are preventable. Please be aware of current fire restrictions and be careful with anything that could spark a fire.

US Forest Service Road and Trail Closures: A forest closure order has been implemented to close the trails and roads within the Los Padres National Forest, Monterey Ranger District pursuant to USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50(a). The order prohibits going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Soberanes Fire area. The Arroyo Seco Campground and Day Use Area is closed. For a complete list of closures please visit: http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf
California State Park Closures: All California State Parks from Garrapata State Park through Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park are closed until further notice; this includes Point Sur State Historic Park (Lighthouse), Andrew Molera State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground and Day Use.
Evacuation Orders: An evacuation ORDER remains in effect for Coast Ridge Rd. from mile marker 1.5 to Marble Peak at the end of the road.
Evacuation Warnings: A WARNING remains for Tassajara Road from Carmel Valley Road to the Tassajara Hot Springs Zen Center. This area includes all roads that lead from the above described roads.
Donations: Local relief efforts to the fire victims have been provided by the Coast Property Owners Association (CPOA) and the Community Foundation for Monterey County. Donations can be made to the CPOA at Coast Property Owners Association, PO Box 59, Big Sur, CA 93920 or the Community Foundation for Monterey County 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940 (831)375-9712.

7:30 am –

Here is John Chestnut’s Map:

7:00 am – here is this morning’s IR Ortho Map, showing a total of 86,294 acres burned so far. Containment is the same, 60%.

Here is the Southern Operations Map for today and the link to the PDFs is here:

South Ops PDF link

Evacuation warning lifted for east side of Highway One:

Soberanes Fire
Los Padres National Forest
August 21, 2016

Salinas, Calif., August 21, 2016, 6:00 p.m.—For Immediate Release.
Evacuation warnings have lifted for the east side of Highway 1 from Andrew Molera State Park to Coast Ridge Road at the Ventana Inn. This includes the Ventana Inn and Coast Ridge Road to 1.5 miles above Ventana Inn.

Evacuation orders remain in effect for Coast Ridge Road from 1.5 miles above the Ventana Inn to the end of Coast Ridge Road at Marble Peak, and roads that leave from Coast Ridge Road.

Evacuation warnings remain in effect from the Tassajara Road from Carmel Valley to the Tassajara Hot Springs Zen Center, and roads that leave from Tassajara Road.

Many communities surrounding Monterey County have been effected by evacuation warnings and orders since July 22, 2016 when an illegal campfire ignited the Soberanes Fire.

The USDA Forest Service, CAL FIRE, and cooperators would like to thank the public for their continued cooperation and understanding during the warnings and evacuations. Fire managers continue to monitor the need for evacuations based on current and expected fire behavior.

For additional information or details regarding the Soberanes Fire, please contact the Soberanes Fire Information Line at (831) 204-0446.

####

Here is  John Chesnut’s Map:

8:30 am – Here is the USFS AM Report

August 21, 2016
DAILY UPDATE
Fire Information Phone (831)204-0446 soberanesfire2016@gmail.com
Media Line: (831)484-9647
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4888/
http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1348

Incident: The Soberanes Fire was started by an Illegal campfire on the morning of July 22, 2016, in the Garrapta State Park. The fire is burning in areas of previous large fires including the Basin Complex in 2008 and the Marble-Cone Fire in 1977.
Location: Los Padres National Forest, Ventana Wilderness, Monterey County, CA
Agency Jurisdiction: CAL FIRE San Benito-Monterey Unit/Los Padres National Forest
Additional Cooperating and Assisting Organizations: CA State Parks and Recreation, CHP, CAL-OES, CDCR, CA National Guard, Big Sur Land Trust, CAL-TRANS, CCC, CA Fish & Wildlife, Coast Property Owners Association (CPOA), Community Foundation for Monterey County, BLM, American Red Cross, the County of Monterey, PG&E, Carmel Highlands F.P.D., Monterey County Regional Fire Protection District, Mid Coast Volunteer Fire Brigade, Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Cachagua Fire Protection District.

Current Size: 83,830 acres (37,194 CA-LPF, 48,018 CAL FIRE,) Containment: 60% Cause: Illegal campfire
Injuries: 1 fatality, 3 injuries Structures Destroyed: 57 homes, 11 outbuildings Structures Threatened: 410
Current Resources: Crews: 48 Engines: 64 Helicopters: 13 Dozers: 29 Water Tenders: 48
Total Personnel: 2421

Current Situation: With an increase of 1,382 acres, the Soberanes Fire was most active near and continues to progress slowly toward Buckskin Flat. It crossed the Carmel River about one mile south of Buckskin Flat Campground, 2 miles northeast of Hiding Canyon and 5 miles west of Chews Ridge. Firefighters continue their efforts building and strengthening existing control lines spanning from the Los Padres Reservoir to Chews Ridge. Due to the well-known ruggedness and inaccessibility along most of the fire’s east side in the Ventana Wilderness, crews continue to spike (camping near the fire front) out, scouting for options for direct line to restrict fire spread where possible.

The northern portion of the fire in the Carmel Valley area remains quiet and crews are expected to be in suppression repair for a couple more weeks.

In the immediate Big Sur area, firefighters are mopping up and beginning repair of fire suppression efforts. No firing operations took place on the fire yesterday but aircraft were utilized on the fire’s perimeter southeast of Big Sur, to cool and slow the fire’s edge.

Firefighters are taking protective action to defend against the slowly advancing Sobranes Fire in the Ventana Wilderness. The English cabin once owned by Jack English a local mountain man and resident, near Pine Flat has been protected with fire-resistant wrap. Dozer line has been constructed around the Church Ranch, and to preserve cultural sites and protect houses near Chews Ridge, areas have been brushed and positioned with hose lays and water pumps. Additional protective action will be taken if deemed necessary.

Wilderness Tactics: To reduce the impacts associated with fire suppression activities in wilderness areas, fire managers and firefighting crews continue using MIST (Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics) as much as possible. The steep, rugged terrain of the Ventana Wilderness is inherently treacherous to firefighters. Most direct fireline is being constructed near the perimeter in areas that have been pretreated and supported by aircraft.

The fire was caused by an illegal, unattended campfire on the Soberanes Canyon trail in the Garrapata State Park. Anyone with information is asked to call the CAL FIRE Tip Line at: (800) 468-4408.

US Forest Service Road and Trail Closures: A forest closure order has been implemented to close the trails and roads within the Los Padres National Forest, Monterey Ranger District pursuant to USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50(a). The order prohibits going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Soberanes Fire area. The Arroyo Seco Campground and Day Use Area is closed. For a complete list of closures please visit: http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf

California State Park Closures: All California State Parks from Garrapata State Park through Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park are closed until further notice; this includes Point Sur State Historic Park (Lighthouse), Andrew Molera State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground and Day Use.

Evacuation Orders: An evacuation ORDER remains in effect for Coast Ridge Rd. from mile marker 1.5 to Marble Peak at the end of the road.

Evacuation Warnings: Evacuation WARNINGS remain in effect for the east side of HWY 1 from Andrew Molera Park to Coast Ridge Rd at the Ventana Inn. This area includes the Ventana Inn and Coast Ridge Rd to mile marker 1.5. A WARNING remains for Tassajara Road from Carmel Valley Road to the Tassajara Hot Springs Zen Center. This area includes all roads that lead from the above described roads.

7 am – here is today’s IR Topo Map, showing 85,211 acres burned. I’ll add links underneath this map each day so you can obtain and/or see additional maps:

IR Topo Map

IR Ortho Map

South Ops Map

(When you click on the above, you will see a “pull-down” with the full link contained in it, click on that and you will get to the map you seek)

 

7:30 pm – haven’t gotten the evening report, yet, but I am not sure I can wait up for it. Today, I only saw the sun once. It was blood red. The rest of the day was gray and smokey – a depressing kind of day, a day when I realized this may be the new “normal” for California in the summer, unless we do something. If Mother Nature does not end our 5-year drought soon, this is what we have to look forward to. I feel for my grandchildren.

8:30 am – Morning Incident Report (there is a new format as IMT 3 takes over. Also note new fire information number as well as email address.)

7:15 am – Today we start the 5th week of this fire … Yesterday’s firing out operations were a bit nerve-wracking for residents up on Partington Ridge. I can actually see Partington Ridge this am, and no plume, so it looks as if last night went well. They may be burning off any left over pockets, today, but will wait to hear from others closer to the “front” of this battle.

2:15 pm – I am hearing rumors of a community meeting at the Elementary School in Carmel Valley for tonight at 6 pm. No official confirmation, yet.

1:45 pm – Report from Magnus:

PIO’s Jacob Welsh & Richard Hadley called today and wanted me to let folks on Partington know that today, 08/18, will be an ‘active day’ of suppression efforts near Partington Ridge.

1. There may be continued burn-out operations east of the control line along the Coast Ridge road today.
2. There very likely will be much air support dropping retardant onto the Logwood ridge line/trail.
3. There is much support and equipment along the control line and they feel ‘very confident’ that they can keep the fire east of the ridge line.

The logwood ridge line effort is part of an attempt to actually stop the fire from spreading east and south. The probability of success is not great but they consider it worth the effort.

“If we can stop the fire here with retardant, ground crew and weather co-operating, we will save us from a much bigger ordeal lasting longer and costing more.”

Magnus

1:00 pm – As Jeffrey Carmichael says, who shot this photo below at noon today from Partington, “The March South Continues …”

7 am – Good morning, all. There is smokey drift in all the canyons, but at least I can see Cone Peak and Partington Ridge this am. As someone pointed out to me last night, they have now changed the containment date from end of this month to end of next. No surprise here. Here is this morning’s fact sheet. They are now issuing them in Word, PDF, and jpeg, so much easier to download and upload. As always, I will be here throughout the day to add to this as information becomes available, or to answer any questions that don’t entail dusting off my crystal ball. 🤓 (I think Lucas might have slept in, as it is a tad after 7 and I haven’t heard from him. So maps and links will be added later.)

7 pm update – the Soberanes fire did not increase in either acreage or containment today. Still sitting at 76,683 acres and 60%.

5:30 pm – I am back, finished my SLO trip, but a few AHs from the Car Week didn’t want me to. There were Porcses , Lamborghini’s, Ferrarris, and even an Audi racing each other up Highway One through Cambria and beyond. Two of them almost sideswiped me during an illegal pass. I called those suckers in.

From Jeffrey Carmichael, taken at 5:00 of the burn out operation from Torre, moving south to Cold Springs Dozer line. If you do not know where this is, check out the dozer map link Lucas provides at the end of each Maps, etc. post

 

---

7 am – Today, I am concerned about the Blue Cut Fire, now at over 30,000 acres, not our own, which still sits at over 76,000,  but even so, I had planned to go meet Rock Knocker in San Luis today and stock up on some fresh produce and milk and things, so at 9 or so, I go into the no man’s land of cell service, and I leave it up to you to bring each other up to date on what is happening with the fire closer to home. I’ll check back in when I get to SLO about 11.

5:30 pm – I apologize for being missing in action for most of the day. An unbelievable fire storm called the Blue Cut Fire closed down I 15 in both directions as well as 138, and possibly some others. It grew 8 miles and 6500 acres in 6 hours. Major threat to life and property. My elderly aunt and uncle are down there and I have been following this fire, while still keeping an eye on Soberanes and Chimney (barely). I will post more on Soberanes as the information becomes available, but in the mean time, I urge you to share your first hand knowledge with each other in the comments section,

11:30 am – Community meeting tonight at 6 at the MAF. As a side note, per the evacuation orders and warnings notice I just got, this is in the mandatory evacuation order corridor.😋

11:00 am – clarification and changes in the evacuation orders and warnings just issued and posted separately. East side of Highway One from Andrew Molera to Ventana still under orders. This would include Captain Cooper School, cabins at River Inn, Blaze Engineering, Ripplewood, Glen Oaks, and the State Park, as well as individual homes on that side of the road.

10:30 am – very little information coming in about this fire at the moment, but on the South Coast eyes are turning toward the Chimney Fire as it marches west and north. The Soberanes firing operations are going very well, and reports are they have reached Lauffer Canyon with their efforts. Plan is to continue ahead of the fire burning southward.

6:45 am – The road opened as planned at midnight last night. The day is starting with no wind, cooler temps, and an overcast sky. All good for both fires. I have started a second Chimney Fire thread below the maps, etc. and will be adding to it throughout the day as I will this one.