Residents return home after some Willow Fire evacuation warnings lifted
ARROYO SECO, Calif. (KION) Some residents impacted by the Willow Fire and evacuation orders got a chance to return to their homes when the orders were downgraded to warnings Thursday evening.
Firefighters battling the Willow Fire in South Monterey County flew multiple helicopters to and from the front lines of the battle. Air support has been crucial in the fight because of how difficult the terrain is for ground crews to get through.
Residents in Arroyo Seco have been cautiously optimistic about the Willow Fire.
"Last year, we were evacuated out. It's kind of like you go back to your house, but you keep everything that you want really close to the door. So if it goes back to evacuation, you can toss in your vehicle and get out of Dodge," said Dee Heckman, an Arroyo Seco resident.
"We were here, and the sheriff's came in the other night and told us we had to get out because of the fire. So I was going to be brave and stay, and then I ended up leaving at 11:15 at night," said June Serrano, another Arroyo Seco resident.
While residents in this area can go back home, they will still have to be on-the-ready in case they need to leave again. Fires are now a constant threat year-round.
"It's scary. Because of the drought, because of the terrain," said Serrano.
"It's always very scary, especially with the plumes of smoke and lots of helicopters. Couple times the helicopters would come by and shake the whole house," said Heckman.
PREVIOUS ARTICLE: Some evacuation orders have been downgraded to warnings and some warning zones have had evacuations lifted altogether as Willow Fire containment grows.
Evacuation orders at zones WF-3a and WF-1 have been downgraded to warnings, according to Monterey County.
This includes:
- WF-1: Tassajara Rd northwest to China Camp Campground in the Los Padres National Forest, includes tributary Forest Routes and the Tassajara Zen Center.
- WF-3a: All areas of Arroyo Secco Rd west of Woodtick Canyon, to include the Arroyo Seco Campground, Rocky Creek Rd, Camp Cawatre.
Meanwhile evacuation warnings have been lifted entirely at the following zones:
- WF-2: Tassajara Rd from China Camp Campground in the Los Padres National Forest northwest to Kincannon Canyon. The Warning stops at the Los Padres National Forest boundary. This does not include Kincannon Rd or tributaries of Jamesburg or Cachagua Rd.
- WF-3b: Areas east of Woodtick Canyon on Arroyo Seco Rd to Millers Ranch at the Carmel Valley Rd.
- WF-4: Areas north of Arroyo Secco Campground to Anastasia Canyon; west of Carmel Valley Rd, and East of Tassajara Rd. This does not include Lambert Flatts, Cachagua Rd or areas east of Carmel Valley Rd.
The only evacuation order that remains is at area WF-6 which is described as areas West of Santa Lucia Creek, east of Black Cone Peak, north of the Dolan Fire scar, and south of the Tassajara Hot Springs.
KION's Josh Kristianto spoke to residents returning home and will share their stories tonight at 11 p.m. on KION.
