Photo by Peter Nichols
As the third day of the Soberanes Fire near the Carmel Highlands comes to a close, firefighters have lost six dwellings and two outbuildings. An estimated 1,650 structures are threatened. The fire has grown to 11,000 acres and is only 5 percent contained. Up against the forces of nature are:
Total Fire Personnel: 1,367
Total Fire Engines: 168
Total Fire crews: 35
Total Airtankers: 6
Total Helicopters: 7 Total
Dozers: 11 Total Water Tenders: 14
There was a report of one minor injury to a firefighter but thus far everyone has been injury-free.
Evacuations have been ordered by the Monterey County Sheriff’s office to include Rocky Creek and Old Coast Road from Highway 1 to Middle Road. Evacuation advisories are in place for Carmel Highlands, Rancho San Carlos, White Rock and Rancho San Clemente.
SPCA has set up and evacuation site for pets and other domestic animals. Animals are taken in at Carmel Middle School and transported to the SPCA facility on Highway 68 across from Laguna Seca Raceway. SPCA is hoping donors will offer cash donations and small bags of pet food and kitty litter so that evacuees can “grab and go.”
There is also a shelter at Carmel Middle School for people forced to leave and who do not have other shelter available to them. Red Cross volunteers stand ready to offer food, minor medical care, and showers as well as cots. They, do, can use cash donations.
Are you looking for someone who might be affected by #soberanesfire? Red Cross’s https://safeandwell.communityos.org/ offers a bulletin board.
The fire incident command is at Toro Park,
Most parks in the Big Sur area will likely be closed tomorrow and for the foreseeable future, though Highway 1 remains open to through traffic.
The fire was first reported on Fri., July 22, 2016 at 8:48 a.m.
