9:00 pm – I am trying to catch up with my email, FB, Twitter, etc. after  a day on the road and the fundraiser tonight. (Sorry I couldn’t stay around, it was way too crowded and way to loud for this gal.) I had hoped to meet some of you, but it just wasn’t to be. There is so much to say, and do, and be, but after 17 days, I am tired … As we all are. I don’t hold the title to that, we do. The battle is not over, in fact, in some ways, it has just begun for Big Sur, and I need to get up to fighting speed and strength again. I may not wake at 6 am tomorrow, as I am no longer at home with the early dawn of elevation looking down on me and nudging me toward wakefulness. I am in unfamiliar territory where my exhaustion may win. Rest, but be ever vigilant, as this monster does not want to let go.

Sikorsky @Rancho Grande by Heather Foster:

Evacuation of Big Sur clarification:

2:30 pm – Scott Moffatt has some incredible photos of the progression of the fire starting at 4 am.

Scott Moffatt Photos

1:30 pm – drove through the entire length of Big Sur this morning. It was so smokey, I couldn’t see much of anything. ALL the businesses were closed, from Deetjen’s to River Inn, but the tourists were flocking through. There was little police presence, only at Sycamore’s Hard Closure. Tourists were tearing down the yellow tape all over JPBurns, but I saw no one of authority.

That makes perfect sense … Keep the people out who know the area and know how to be safe, who have lived through numerous wildfires, and let the clueless tourist wander about with abandon.How was this for the local’s safety, again? What am I missing here? In what uninverse is a wildfire safer for the clueless than for the experienced?

12:30 pm – just had lovely lunch at Sur. When I get settled in up here I will tell you my observations driving through Big Sur.

This is Stan Russell and appears to be the “party line” and not what I am hearing or observing. “The evacuation notice issued last night was issued because a 40 MPH wind kicked up and pushed the fire over the dozer line. The slop over fire was a 100 acres. This is the main fire that made the run.

Operations today; they are burning off the dozer lines – back firing. The operation is going well. (Really??)

They will have full air support as soon as they can fly safely. They also have portable fire retardant stations to load up the helicopters.

They weren’t able to back burn the area behind Mount Manuel yesterday.

There will be Public Information Officers posted today at Big Sur Station, Post Office area, Big Sur Bakery, Fernwood Resort, Nepenthe, Ripplewood, and I recommended posting one at the River Inn which he said he would do. They will have sandwich boards with maps and be able to answer your questions.”

At this point the Sheriff’s Department is NOT closing Highway 1, which makes no sense. As one business manager says, “The tourists are allowed in but owners and workers aren’t?”

7:00 am – from Ken Wright who says flames are visible in the north fork of Juan Higuera

7:00 am – From Jen Smith on Clear Ridge

7:00 am – From Ed Van Weijen on Clear Ridge

7:00 am – For all of those asking if Highway One is open — I don’t know, yet, but PLEASE, if you don’t have any business being down here, don’t come. All businesses have been evacuated and are telling employees not to come to work. We don’t need any more gawkers. AND just got word it is expected to close this am at Bixby Bridge.

6:45 – Dawn on Mt Manuel from Pfeiffer Ridge by Kyle Evans

6:30 am – by now, all of you have heard of the evacuation order for Big Sur Valley from the Lighthouse to just north of Deetjen’s, both sides. I will be following developments throughout the day, however, I will be heading out the door at 8:30 am into cell phone no-man’s land for a while. When I have reception again, I will check in. This is my day to go north to Monterey for a couple days of R&R. (LOL, as if) but will be online on and off.

6:30 pm –
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is lifting evacuation orders for the area of Garrapata Trout Farm Road and Weston Ridge Road (aka Garrapata Ridge Road). This excludes the driveway north of Trout Farm road.
Palo Colorado Road and the driveway north of Garrapata Trout Farm Road remain under evacuation orders.

4:28 pm – Per Kathleen Lee of Dave Potter’s Office (who by the way has been tireless in her assistance during this fire) states she was notified by the IC that they started back burns 10 mins. Ago. YAY

3:30 pm – Post Summit

3:21 pm – Just received this photo from Lacie via Ed of the top of Post Summit:

3:10 pm – from ED Van Weijen:

2:45 pm – this is what it looks like NOW from Clear Ridge, photo by Eduardo Eizner, says it is back of the Little Sur.

 

2:15 pm – Repopulation is taking place in the White Rock area. The evacuation Order has been made a warning for portions of Cachagua and Tassajara. Cachagua Rd. between Nason Rd and Trampa Canyon Rd and Nason Road are still under an Evacuation Order.

2:10 PM – LOST DOG, CHASE, IN THE HIGHLANDS WAS REUNITED WITH ITS OWNER TODAY, DUE TO ALAN, WHO READS THIS BLOG, AND SAW CHASE AND CONTACTED ME AND THEN OWNER.

2:00 pm – There will be a public community meeting at the MAF on Monday, August 8, 2016, at 6:00PM. This will be a briefing to provide an update on the Soberanes Fire progress and containment efforts. If you have questions, this is your opportunity to get answers.

Over the past couple of days, planes and helicopters have been applying retardant on areas around Post Summit and Mt. Manuel in part in preparation for back fires that are planned for this weekend. There will be an increase in smoke today as a result of the back fires used to slow further advancement of the fire. (I am supposed to be notified when they start back burning, and of course, I will notify all of you.)

11:00 am – “Cal fire briefing confirmed. Today two pm Cachagua general store. Intended audience are us still inside road closure and yes will be allowed to return to property. Please trevel with drivers license, and a residential bill like PG E bill that matches your drivers license.” From Jolene

9:30 am – FOUND PARAKEET:

“Have a very pretty parakeet hanging around the house this morning. Have put bird seed out for the bird to eat and fresh water. Not letting us get too close. Currently sitting in a redwood next to the driveway. 667-2182. No idea where he came from out talking to CHP this morning when it flew onto the truck rack!”

And BTW, the lost dog in the Highlands was spotted at 8 am in the highlands and trying to get the spotter and owner together.

9:00 am – Just a reminder that the Local Assistance Center is now underway at Carmel Mission Inn, 3665 Rio Road in Carmel. Will be open until 3. Hope folks will come take advantage of having all these services in one place.

This is for information and services for those displaced/affected by the fire. Many agencies (both state and local) are on hand to help with record replacement, property tax relief, community benefits, insurance issues, permits assistance, home inspections, hazardous waste removal among other issues.

7:30 am – Facts sheet important details. Containment still 40%, acres up to 55,600. There is a burn out operation scheduled for today, but Cal Fire did not indicate where it would be, although I suspect it will be the one behind or between Post Summit and Mt. Manuel to protect Big Sur Valley.

6:00 am – I think I was remiss last night in not posting the facts sheet, or at least the acreage and containment. Acres is 53,900 – now up to 55,682 per IR flight before midnight – but containment is UP to 40%. YAY!! We are watching Big Sur Valley closely, today. Expecting a burn out operation this weekend, hopefully, if conditions are right, today. Another day of waking to no visibility due to smokey conditions. As always, I will be posting information here as soon as it is received, or shortly thereafter.

If you are going to  the clinic tomorrow, Saturday, with all the various agencies, and you have suffered during this fire, you might want to take advantage of this offer posted in my comments tonight: “Free Stress Reduction Clinic- Ear Acupuncture – Community welcomed – Sat August 6 noon – 4 pm at Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula – ? call Laurie Kleinman M.D .831 320-9560

7:15 pm – the smoke is horrific down here. I cannot see anything at all. I hope this is a burn out. This is bad. No sunset for me tonight.

5:30 pm – photo by Sandra O’Keefe Bellamy from Laureles Grade

2:45 pm – planes flying overhead from Paso going north to fire – maybe? Haven’t heard any more or any returns in quite a while (5:30 pm)

2:10 pm – Mt. Manuel by Barbara Sexton from Rancho Rico, who also notes a helicopter just flew over with a bucket. Hmmm…

12:30 pm – from Frank Pinney:

“I just got back from the 10:00 Cooperators Meeting at Toro Park, where Martha or I or Cal Fire Bn Chief Mike Martin serve as Agency Representatives for the Brigade daily.

Firing out on the east side of Mt Manuel at tactical points will begin Saturday or Sunday at the latest. Ops is allowing time to get the hand lines needed to help contain and direct the new fire that will be introduced by the hand crews that will reduce the probability that there can be a run uphill to reach the primary fire break uncontrolled.

Firing out is always tricky because they are placing new fire ahead of the main front, so the conditions have to right on target.

Hand line at Gorge highest priority and tie in to the North Coast Ridge Road Firebreak continues to be improved. Frank Zabrowski has tied in with Branch VIII Sur Ops to share historic local knowledge. Still planning to have a community meeting Monday at 6PM at the MAF depending on fire behavior over the weekend (fire ops looking very positive at this time)”

Frank Pinney
Chief Emeritus
BSVFB

12:05 pm – Oh, great. They have expanded the LPNF closure to Nacimiento-Fergusson RD on the south end, thus pushing all the hikers and campers down into our end. Why not close the entire Monterey District??? Now we have to deal with all the illegal campfires with only 1 ranger?? This is idiotic, and if I see Bob Baird on Sunday, I will tell him so,

11:30 am – Well, the OES alert system works, and I am signed up, I guess. Two phone calls and 1 email notifying me that the air quality in the Big Sur area, all the way down to the county line is unhealthy, and we are advised to stay indoors with window and doors closed. Okay, I knew that. I also know I can’t close my windows and doors due to temperatures. So there I am. I will get a respite for a couple days soon, though.

10:00 am – Working on widening Hopkins Ridge hand line today, I am told, which is the one down from Mt. Manuel to the Big Sur River gorge Micah mentions below.

9:00 am – from Micah Curtis: “The fire is on Santa Lucia Ridge which runs up from the Little Sur river to Posts summit they were dropping retardant on it yesterday to keep it from blowing up and over Posts Summit and into the valley. They are hoping to to get good conditions to backburn off the dozer, retardant line from the old coast road over Posts summit and mount Manuel they have a hand line from Mount Manuel down into the Big Sur river gorge. The line is unlikely to hold without the backburn, ….”

8:30 am – here is Xasauan Today‘s map: (not looking good for Cachagua or Big Sur Valley, although Cachagua was prepped for a big firing operation last night. The one for Big Sur Valley may have been canceled due to winds.)

Today’s update from resident of Post’s Ranch “…the fire is near Apple Pie now. Unfortunately a backfire was never started due to high winds so only retardant and heroic clearance efforts stand between fire and many homes including Melissa’s house right now (about 1 mile). She is packing and moving things up here (Post’s) tomorrow…. We have about a 3 day wait until the fire could be here. I am packing photo albums and made an evacuation list to pack if we get a warning. The air is thick with smoke but it’s ok inside. Planes and helicopters flew over us all day. They sounded wonderful!”

6:00 am – I remember when this used to be an ungodly hour for waking and moving about, never mind writing a cogent sentence. I am confident it will be again, just not confident about when that will happen.

Total acres 53,726

From last night taken by Cache Swanson from Jack Swanson’s Ranch:

8:45 pm – sunset from my observation post and a good night from Bigsurkate and Missy McNab, the mystery dog.

8:30 pm – As the fire grows (51.200 acres) so does the containment. (30%). I can’t tell you how impressed I am with this management team. I have been watching them closely for two weeks now, and their planning is the most advanced I have ever witnessed, and I have watched a few. If you witness increased activity in your area, chances are they are preparing a week in advance for the worst case scenario. I watched preparations on Chew’s Ridge via Tom Little Bear Nason for a week, and then watched the hard closures of the roads in the area earlier today, and knew a backfire operation would happen tonight to protect Cachagua. If all goes well (can’t always predict Mother Nature) Cachagua will be breathing easier in just a few days. They have saved White Rock this way, Rancho San Clemente this way, and they will save Cachagua and Big Sur Valley this way. This is a debt that can never be repaid. But here is an organization that provides for the fallen firefighters and their families, and maybe you can help pay your respects and thanks by donating to them:

Wildland Fire Fighters Foundation

6:00 pm – a message from from a friend in Big Sur Valley:

“The fire that was 14 miles is now right next door! Granted it is high on the ridge with a fuel break retardant dropped and dropping still in between. Just thought you would like to know how much fun it is getting to be.”

4:30 pm – for those who can’t go to  the community meeting tonight, and who are familiar with periscope (I am not, so can’t help you there)
“Please join us for the community meeting, live on Periscope at CAL FIRE BEU, or @lospadresnf and @CAL FIRE BEU on Twitter.”

Okay, I did get this link specific to the meeting off of Twitter, hopefully, it will work (caveat, I had to transcribe by hand to paper and then here, lots of room for error with those weird letter/number strings):

Periscope

3:20 – This was taken from the Big Sur Deli at 2:11 by Kurt?

1:40 pm – I find myself napping whenever I can. I’ll be back, but in the meantime, a reader sent me this:

1:00 pm – Firefighter Brett Gainey captured this insane photo on the Soberanes Fire

11:00 am

10:30 am – from the Big Sur Health Center:

1) Big Sur Health Center is a non-profit supporting the community during this disaster. BSHC is offering complimentary services to all those who are victims of the Sobranes Fire, whether due to loss of residence, loss of job, or just volunteering to help neighbors fight the fire and protect property. We know from experience that during times of stress, people tend to get sick and/or injured. We don’t want finances to discourage anyone from seeking services.

2) Big Sur Health Center staff is supporting the local firefighting effort by providing on-site evaluation and treatment of the firefighters at the Base Camp at Pfeiffer State Park. We are proud to be able to support these brave men and women.

7:00 am – Another Dawn with no sun, as the smoke is too thick. Breathing has become both a challenge and a goal.

I got many, many shots of the huge plumes yesterday late, that, from what I was told last night, was a successful back firing operation. I couldn’t get them all posted. Will try to do better this am, if you have shots from this morning.

For the first time since the fire started, a predicted change in the weather for the good, allowing for recovery of RH (relative humidity) at night is in the forecast. (See the weather report on the maps post).

From Rancho San Clemente:

To see the rest of the photos, go to their FB page.

This evening’s report

This morning’s report

7:30 pm – this is happening right behind Cindra Brimsmead’s house in CV. It is a planned dozer movement.

6:15 pm – This does not look good – from my look-out bigsurkate

5:30 – from Laurels Grade photo by Sandra O’Keefe Bellamy:

5:25 pm – Photo take from Osborne Ridge by Lucas Ryan just now:

4:46 pm – the winds have really picked up down here in the last hour … Winds gusting to 13 mph. That has cleared out some of the smoke, but I hope it is not impacting the fire. I am seeing a much larger plume on the west side of the fire, and it is a little bit darker on the east side.

3:04 pm – current plume shot from Laureles Grade by i Sandra O’Keefe Bellamy

11:45 am – for those who are having trouble identifying landmarks, mountains, etc. Here is a great link a reader sent me that I will also add to the links on the right:

Uncle Sam’s Mountain maps

One of the things that is so great about this link is it is specific to Monterey. Before this fire, I had never heard of the mountain, Uncle Sam’s Mountain out there on the east side.

7:00 am – Print this out and take with you to Billy Quon’s “Sur” restaurant in the Barnyard:

6:30 am – Extremely smoky down here, can’t really tell what is going on. Lots of burn out operations yesterday in the Cachagua, White Rock, Racho San Clemente area and was posting photos all evening. I’m getting updates, which I will post shortly – I get them in FB PM, email, and easiest (for me) comments in our locals reports post each day. First, let me get this up so you have something to comment on!

A series of photos of the operations and back fire ing at Rancho San Clemente by Bruce Dormody are over on their FB page, with great explanations about the geography.

7:57 pm from Mary Martin in Cachagua. Seems like a fitting one to end with, unless I get something I feel compelled to post. A day away is no fun when I am driving in the crazy traffic with crazy tourists for 4 and 1/2 hours.

Fresno Fire Engine being towed by two Cal Fire Dozers:

From Aletha Parker on Saddle Mountain watching the back fire behind White Rock and Rancho San Clemente.

5:30 pm – these photos were taken this afternoon from approximately 3:30 to 5:00 pm by Sandy O’Keefe Bellamy from Laurels Grade. All indications are this was a planned back burn – looks like an awfully large back burn.

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8:30 am – from Bruce Dormandy at Rancho San Clemente:

“This is the back fire on the unnamed ridge which is now Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District open space (formerly the Los Compadres Ranch) This break is key to protecting the Cachugua. This burned very hot last evening as it backed down to the Carmel River.”

6:50 am – Today I need to do a supply run to the South. I will be leaving around 9-10 am or so. The first hour of my trip is in a dead zone, no cell. Then I will be in range for most of the day, but on and offline, as I accomplish my various stops – we all know the drill. These kinds of supply runs generally take 7 hours or so, given that travel time is often up to 4 hours with traffic. Mike will be taking care of approving comments and whatever else needs watching, and Lucas has already started getting the maps up for you and will continue to add to that, as necessary. You can still send things to me, and at each stop, I will check and forward to Mike if non-map related, and to Lucas if map-related. I’m ever so greatful for the help, but still not quite used to having “staff.” Let’s hope this is a great fire-fighting day.

IR flight for 0230 hours shows 43,434 acres for a growth of 2707 acres since the last flight.

For Immediate Release Contact: Office of Emergency Services
August 1, 2016 831-796-1900
Monterey County to Offer Local Assistance Center for Soberanes Fire Victims

A local assistance center will be available on Saturday, August 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Carmel Mission Inn, 3665 Rio Road in Carmel.

The center will offer information and services for those displaced/affected by the fire. Some of the agencies confirmed to attend are:

Monterey County Assessor’s Office – property tax relief
County Clerk – for record replacement
Department of Social Services – community benefits
Resource Management Agency – permit assistance, debris removal
State Department of Insurance – resolving insurance issues
State Contractors Licensing Board – information on hiring contractors
DMV- replacing Driver’s License, ID
Employment Development Department – unemployment services
Franchise Tax board – tax relief
Board of Equalization – business records
Monterey County Health Department – inspections, hazardous waste removal, counseling
Recovers – find goods and services offered by locals
American Red Cross – recovery assistance
SPCA of Monterey County – shelter for displaced pets, pet food supplies.
Food Bank for Monterey County – food

For updated information about the event, please contact the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services at 796-1900 or 2-1-1.

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