UPDATE: Soberanes Fire explodes overnight to 27,326 acres
UPDATE 7/28/16 7:25 AM:The Soberanes Fire continues to grow Thursday morning. According to Cal Fire the fire has now burned27,326 acresand remains 10 percent contained.
UPDATE 7/27/16 8:09 AM: According to Cal Fire, one person has died in the fight against the Soberanes Fire. A call-when-needed dozer operator suffered fatal injuries during night time operations.
UPDATE 7/27/16 7:44 AM: Cal Fire officials say they are trying to keep the fire west of Carmel, as the flames travel east.
The number of acres burned is now up to 23,568, while containment remains at 10-percent.
Structure protection remains a top priority. Crews are hoping a controlled burn operation will stop momentum and give firefighters more room.
UPDATE 7/26/16 7:35 PM: The Soberanes Fire continues to grow Tuesday night. According to Cal Fire the fire has now burned 23,500 acres and remains 10 percent contained.
The news comes minutes after a State of Emergency was declared for Monterey County due to the effects of the fire.
UPDATE 7/26/16 6:31 PM : Acting Governor Tom Torlaskon issued a state of emergency for Monterey and Los Angeles counties Tuesday due to the effects of the Soberanes and Sand Fires.
The Declaration will allow counties to ask the state for aid.
UPDATE 7/26/2016 2:41 PM: Evacuation orders are expanding Tuesday afternoon as residents living near a portion of Santa Lucia Preserve are asked to pack up and leave immediately.
Cal Fire issued the order for Santa Lucia Preserve on Rancho San Carlos between Canter Run and Garzas Trail at 3:00 p.m. Crews say it is unclear how many residents are impacted by this latest order.
Evacuation orders remain in effect for:
-Palo Colorado
-Old Coast Road
-Corona Road, east of Highway 1
-Riley Ranch Road, east of Highway 1
-Bixby Creek Road from Highway 1 south to Mesa
-Garrapatos Road
-Weston Ridge Road (aka Garrapatos Road)
An Evacuation Warning remains in effect for:
-Carmel Highlands
-White Rock
-Old Coast Road, south from Bixby Creek Road to Little Sur River
-Rancho San Carlos
An evacuation center is set up at Carmel Middle School, at 4380 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. The number for the center is 831-334-2811.
Cal Fire is asking all evacuated residents to take any medications, pets and family valuables. They’re also asking residents to close all windows and doors before leaving.
UPDATE 7/26/2016 12:45 PM: Fire officials say protecting Carmel Highlands is their top priority. At a Tuesday morning media briefing, officials with Cal Fire and the California Highway Patrol said there are no plans to close Highway 1, but urged drivers to stay away to allow fire equipment to move freely. The Soberanes Fire, now in its fifth day, has burned 19,311 acres.
UPDATE 7/26/2016 7:05 AM:The Soberanes fire has grown to 19,311 acres according to Cal Fire. The blaze is still 10 percent contained.
UPDATE 7/25/2016 7:39 PM: The Soberanes fire has grown to 16,100 acres and is now 10 percent contained.
According to Cal Fire, 1,650 structures are still being threatened. No one has been hurt.
300 residents have been forced to leave their homes.
2,285 personnel are helping in the fire fight. Several agencies are working together including the US Forest Service Los Padres National Forest, California State Parks and Recreation, California Highway Patrol, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks District, Red Cross and CAL-OES.
UPDATE 7/25/2016 6:30 PM:
The Soberanes fire burning south of Carmel near Garrapata State Park is covering nearly 15,000 acres as of Monday night. Cal Fire officials said 20 homes and two outbuildings have been destroyed, another 1,600 are threatened. Some 1,400 fire personnel from all over the state are on the Central Coast to help battle the blaze.
On Monday afternoon, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders for parts of the Carmel Highlands, including Corona Road east of Highway 1 and Riley Ranch Road east of Highway 1. There are existing mandatory notices for the Palo Colorado, Old Coast Road, Rocky Creek Road, Bixby Creek Road from Highway 1 south to Mesa Road areas.
There are also road closures including Palo Colorado Road at Highway 1 and Weston Ridge Road at Highway 1. Robinson Canyon Road south of Penon Peak Trail and Old Coast Road from Bixby Creek south to Andrew Molera State Park is also closed.
The treacherous terrain, strong winds and a marine layer caused chaos on the front lines of the fire.
“The wind coming from the west and pushing the fire, shifting from the south, hitting the front lines in different places,” is how Capt. Raymond Martinez described the erratic winds.
The marine layer prevented Cal Fire from attacking from the air. By the afternoon, more than a dozen aircraft either dumped water or retardant onto the flames, helping to do what those on the ground could not.
“It’s very rocky so that’s potentially a hazard for them as well and you cannot get mechanized equipment back in that area so bulldozers in some of those areas become ineffective,” Martinez said.
While the lower stretch of Palo Colorado Road looked lush, the steep terrain is tinder box dry.
“The fuels are under the drought conditions that we’ve had for the past few years,” Martinez said. “The field moisture in the live fuels are very low and at critical level. That is why the fire is burning so actively even at night.”
But one bright spot was many in the Palo Colorado neighborhood paid attention to the evacuation orders. Some even posted signs alerting firefighters where there is available water.
ORIGINAL POST:
Firefighters are battling the weather and rough terrain as they work to contain the Soberanes Fire, which has burned nearly 15,000 acres along Highway 1 south of the Carmel Highlands.
Overnight humidity remained high, allowing the fire to continue to grow. Monday morning, low coastal clouds forced helicopters to remain grounded. The fire is burning in steep terrain, preventing firefighters from using heavy machinery to build firebreaks.
Tonight at 5 and 6, KION’s Mariana Hicks will report from CalFire’s Toro Park base camp and update the firefighting efforts.
