Dolan Fire crews on alert for spot fires

JOLON, Calif. (KION)

The Dolan Fire continues to rage on the Central Coast and now fire officials say spot fires could be a challenge in their fight to put out the flames.

Black terrain and ash are what's left in the aftermath of a recent spot fire in Fort Hunter Liggett that burned approximately 100 acres, Saturday.

Officials say the spot fire was caused by flying embers landing along Del Venturi Road that floated over from the hills where the Dolan Fire continues to burn.

This is the challenge on parts of the Dolan Fire that remain unconfined.

"“Forty percent of the fire line, we’re confident that the fire is not going to escape over, so that sixty percent of the fire line is what we consider uncontrolled or un-contained," says Dolan Fire Information Officer, Mike Johnson.

Johnson says teams are constantly patrolling and monitoring the fire lines with an emphasis on increasing containment, therefore decreasing the chance for more spot fires.

However, he does add climate is another challenge crews are looking at.

“The temperature changes, last week we were in triple digits, high heat, high humidity was really taking a toll on firefighters," says Johnson.

Crews say they seem to have control in the Fort Hunter Liggett area, but both law enforcement and fire officials say their area of concern is Arroyo Seco as the fire moves in that direction.

Monterey County Sheriff Steve Bernal says that with crews mopping up the South and Coast side of the fire, they are hoping to open up Highway 1 by the end of the week.