Families contemplate evacuation warnings as River fire grows

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION)

On Monday night the River Fire grew to 3,793 acres. Containment however, remained at ten percent.

The terrain and limited access proving challenging for crews with Cal Fire.

As the sun set the fire fight from above came to a pause. Air tankers overnight are grounded and will resume on Tuesday morning. Families and people who live north of San Benancio Road worrying about the firefight overnight and contemplating evacuation warnings.

“It’s out of your control, you try to do whatever you can to protect your house, your neighbors, you help them out, your property, your animals and number one your families, said Kevin Garcia who lives in the threatened zone, south of Salinas.

The fire location is reported to be off Pine Canyon Road and River Road.

From San Banancio Road crews with Cal Fire were visible on the mountain top, working to gain control.
 

“I need to figure out if, we're gonna stick around for too much longer or not. We've got all our animals and everything else out for the most part. My family is staying with some friends. So, I'm coming back to assess the damage and see if I should stick around or high-tail it myself,” said Garcia.

Down along San Benancio road are messages of appreciation on cardboard signs for Cal Fires crews working to save property. The land and limited access up the steep hills presenting big challenges.

"It's just rough terrain, it's hard to access some of these areas, so we're trying to get acclimated to the terrain out here to make better progress,” said Rigoberto Herrera, a public information with Cal Fire.

Progress on Monday remained small at 10 percent. The extreme weather also to blame for the lack of containment.

Still, others remain hopeful they don’t have to leave their homes.

“It's scary, we’d lived here 14 years and haven't seen a fire here, ever. It's definitely new and makes you think you need to get out of your house. Pack a bag, get all your files, your computers," said Kristin Mashmeyer.

With the fire threatening some 1500 structures, Monterey County opened an evacuation shelter at Toro Park Elementary School.

Evacuation warnings included: Communities north of San Benancio Road, West of Troy Lane, Southeast of Harper Canyond Road to include Harper Canyon Road, Weather Rock Way and Rimrock Canyon Road.