Soberanes Fire: A timeline

THURSDAY OCTOBER 13: The U.S. Forest Service announced that the fire is officially 100 percent contained. The fire burned 132,127 acres since it sparked on July 22nd. It’s now on patrol status, with crews continuing to mop up the fire and extinguishing hot spots. U.S. Forest Service officials said that 79 percent of the suppression work is complete. Work around the Arroyo Seco area is expected to be completed in the next few days. Fire officials tell KION smoldering areas within the fire will continue to produce smoke. The fire will not be completely controlled until after a season-ending rain in the next two months.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 12: Total acreage remains unchanged at 1 32,127 acres. It is 99 percent contained. Fire officials report that 77 percent of suppression repair work is now complete, with 297 out of384 miles repaired. Work around Arroyo Seco is expected to be completed in a few days.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 11: Total acreage remains at 132,127 acres, as the Marble Peak flareup is contined at 27 acres. Helitac crews continue to extinguish hot sots and assist with suppression repair. Out of 375 miles of known fire suppression repair work, 272 miles (73 percent) have been completed.

MONDAY OCTOBER 10: 132,127 acres have burned. The increase in acreage is due to the Marble Peak flare-up, which was held to 27 acres. A cooling and moistening trend will support low to moderate fire behavior throughout the week.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 9: Evacuation warnings have been lifted as of 6:00 p.m..

SATURDAY OCTOBER 8:

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7: The U.S. Forest Service said the Soberanes Fire is 98 percent contained and is now at 132,100 acres.

Crews said they’re working with archeologists, hydrologists and engineers to make sure roads and fire lines are prepared for winter weather.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 6: Fire crews say the Soberanes Fire is 97 percent contained and only grew three acres since Wednesday to 132,095.

Full containment is expected October 15.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 5: The U.S. Forest Service said the Soberanes Fire is now 96 percent contained at is 132,092 acres.

Crews said they used infrared cameras to detect hotspots in the Miller Creek and Calaboos Creek area Tuesday.

A meeting with Monterey County and fire officials will be held Wednesday night at Big Sur Lodge to discuss the burn report. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4: Crews say the Soberanes Fire is 95 percent contained at has reached 132,092 acres. The U.S. Forest Service reports the evacuation order for Tassajara Road from Chews Ridge south to the end of the road at Tassajara Hot Springs is modified from an order to a warning.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30: Fire officials revise total acreage to 132,069 — up from 129,395 reported yesterday — due to a change in calculation methods. The new number now reflects all land within the fire perimeter, even unburned areas. The change in calculating acreage does not affect containment percentage.

The projected containment date is pushed back to October 15 , a change from September 30 . Containment is now at 92 percent, up from 52 percent about two weeks ago.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29: After fighting the Soberanes Fire for 70 days, containment surpasses the 90 percent mark. Officials report the fire is at 92 percent containment with current acreage at 129,395 acres. The Central Coast Interagency Incident Management Team assumes command of the fire from the California Interagency Incident Management Team.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 28: The Soberanes Fire is 89 percent contained and covers 128,595 acres. Crews said a fifth management team will start working on the fire Thursday morning.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27: The Soberanes Fire is now 81 percent contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Soberanes fire managers are coordinating with the Loma Fire to share resources, as Cal Fire works to contain the new fast moving blaze. The flames have put up a very large column of smoke in the area.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 26: The Soberanes Fire has grown to 127,478 acres Monday morning. It is now 78 percent contained according to fire officials.

Crews said an evacuation order is still in effect for Chew’s Ridge South to the end of Tassajara Rd.

The following evacuation orders and warnings were lifted by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

ORDER:
From the east side of Tassajara Road from Chews Ridge to Bruce Ranch. Bruce Ranch east along Anastasia Canyon to Carmel Valley Road. Carmel Valley Road south from Anastasia Canyon to Tash Ranch has been lifted. This includes zone 10D-C.

WARNING:
From north of Carmel Valley Road from Hastings Preserve to Cahoon Ranch and north of Carmel Valley Road from Cahoon Ranch east to Tash Ranch have been lifted. This includes zones 10D-N, 11C, 11D.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24: Containment for the Soberanes Fire has jumped to 76 percent as crews prepare to continue burnout operations.

The fire has burned 126,593 acres but a press release from the California Interagency Incident Management Team and U.S. Forest Service says they predict minimal fire behavior overnight.

A community meeting will be held today at the Arroyo Seco fire station at 6 p.m.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23: The Soberanes Fire has grown to 126,000 acres overnight Friday, according to officials. It is now 73 percent contained. There will be a community meeting tomorrow in the Arroyo Seco area.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22: The Soberanes Fire is 125,344 acres and is 71 percent contained. Crews said gusty winds contributed to two spot tires burning outside containment lines, but they were able to get it under control.

Firefighters said they are focused on maintaining current containment lines on Thursday, while weather conditions are still expected to be challenging because of a red flag warning through the evening.

The U.S. Forest Service said a community meeting will be held Saturday night at 6 p.m. at the fire station in Arroyo Seco, 46700 Arroyo Seco Road.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21: Crews said the fire is now 123,241 acres and is 71 percent contained. A red flag warning is in effect for Wednesday afternoon through Thursday night, with gusts expected up to 25-25 miles per hour. Crews said they are concerned hot spots could intensify and threaten containment lines on the east side. Firefighters are staged and prepared to deal with the situation if that happens, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20: The Soberanes Fire is now 71 percent contained and is 121,050 acres. Crews are working on controlled burns near the Chews Ridge area and an evacuation order was issued after winds carried embers, creating a new spot fire.

The order was issued for the east side of Tassajara Road from Chews Ridge to Bruce Ranch. Bruce Ranch east along Anastasia Canyon to Carmel Valley Road. Carmel Valley Road south from Anastasia Canyon to Tash Ranch.

Two new evacuation warnings were also issued. Crews said an evacuation warning is in effect for the east side of the fire near Arroyo Seco, southwest of East Carmel Valley Road starting at the intersection of East Carmel Valley Road and Piney Creek Road, extending east to the Arroyo Seco Road remains in effect.

Another warning is in effect for the Arroyo Seco Road from East Carmel Valley Road extending west past the Arroyo Seco Campground.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19: Firefighters say the fire is now 67 percent contained. It’s the first time containment has reached above 60 percent, since the fire started on July 22nd. The fire has grown to more than 113,000 acres. More than 2,000 firefighters are still on scene, working to get the fire under control by the end of the month.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16: The fire has grown to 108,031 acres and is 57 percent contained. On Thursday, crews said operations were successful as they built a two and a half mile progression toward building a black line. That work will continue Friday.

Crews say they’ve been able to create 95 miles of containment lines around the fire, but their goal is reach 191.1 miles.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15: Containment for the Soberanes Fire increased overnight from 52 percent to 55 percent. The fire is now at 107,479 acres.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 14: Containment for the Soberanes Fire dropped from 60 percent to 52 percent on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Crews said the fire spread a little bit since Tuesday and some new sections burned in remote areas. The fire is now 107,375 acres.

A community meeting will be held in Arroyo Seco Thursday night at 6PM.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13: The Soberanes Fire has grown to 107,050 acres Monday morning. It is still 60 percent contained.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 12: The Soberanes Fire has grown to 105,705 acres Monday morning. Officials say it is still 60 percent contained.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11: The fire has burned 105,641 acres but is still within containment lines. A new evacuation order was issued for Tassajara Road from Chews Ridge south to the end of the road at Tassajara Hot Springs. Thirteen people decide to evacuate the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, but 29 others choose to stay and protect the center from the fire. Those who remain sign a waiver, stating they accept the risks of staying.

A water tender rolled over around 9 a.m. Sunday while operating on the west side of the fire. The driver was flown to an area hospital for treatment and is expected to recover fully.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 9: The Friday morning briefing from the U.S. Forest Service and Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team reported the fire at 103,242 acres with 60 percent containment.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8: Fire crews said the Soberanes Fire has burned 102,499 acres and containment is still at 60 percent. Temperatures Thursday were 5-8 degrees cooler than Wednesday. Flames are still about two miles away from The Tassajara Zen Center. Total personnel 1,333.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 6: The fire has now burned 100,979 acres. Containment remains at 60 percent. The fire is 2-1/2 miles south and west of the Tassajara Zen Center. On Tuesday, two drones violated temporary flight restrictions over the fire area. One drone flew within ¼ mile of where helicopters were working. State Park officers cited one person.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 5: The fire grows to 100,428 acres and is 60% contained with 1,130 fire personnel assigned. An evacuation warning is expanded to include an area south of Anderson Canyon along Highway 1. The new evacuation warning includes the Big Sur-Partington/South Coast Center area.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 4: Increasing winds caused a significant increase in the fire’s spread. The overall acreage increased by approximately 2,700 acres for a total acreage of 98,420 acres.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3: Fire officials report the fire has burned 95,716 acres, growing by nearly 1,000 acres since Friday. It is still 60 percent contained. 1,083 total personnel are assigned.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2: The fire is still at 60 percent containment. It has grown to 94,736 acres. 1,095 personnel are fighting the fire.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1: The fire has burned 94,180 acres and remains at 60 percent containment.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 31: 93,714 acres have burned. Containment is 60 percent. A total of 1,202 personnel are assigned to the fire.

TUESDAY AUGUST 30: The Soberanes Fire has grown to 93,245 acres Friday morning. It is still 60 percent contained. A Burned Area Emergency Response Team (BAER) is now working to identify areas threatened by soil erosion or flash flooding due to vegetation loss.

MONDAY AUGUST 29: The Soberanes Fire has grown to 92,314 acres Monday morning. It is still 60 percent contained.

SUNDAY AUGUST 28: The fire has burned 91,453 acres.

SATURDAY AUGUST 27: Despite warmer tempertures and lower humidity, fire officials report no significant fire spread. 91,453 acres have burned.

FRIDAY AUGUST 26: The Soberanes Fire has grown to 91,100 acres Friday morning, according to Cal Fire. It is still 60 percent contained.

THURSDAY AUGUST 25: The Soberanes Fire has grown to 90,062 acres Thursday morning, according to Cal Fire. It is still 60 percent contained.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 24: The Soberanes Fire has grown to 88,654 acres Wednesday morning, according to Cal Fire. It is still 60 percent contained.

TUESDAY AUGUST 23: The Soberanes Fire has grown to 87,316 acres Tuesday morning, according to Cal Fire. It is still 60 percent contained.

MONDAY AUGUST 22: The Soberanes Fire has grown to 86,294 acres Monday morning, according to Cal Fire. It is still 60 percent contained.

Evacuation warnings have been lifted for the east side of Highway 1, from Andrew Molera State Park to Coast Ridge Road at the Ventana Inn. This includes the Ventana Inn and Coast Ridge Road to 1.5 miles above Ventana Inn.

FRIDAY AUGUST 19: The Soberanes fire has grown to 81,396 acres Friday morning, according to Cal Fire. It is still 60 percent contained.

THURSDAY AUGUST 18: The Soberanes Fire has grown to 79,000 acres Thursday morning, according to Cal Fire. It is still 60 percent contained.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 17: The Soberanes Fire has grown to 76,683 acres Wednesday morning, according to Cal Fire. It is still 60 percent contained. Crews have pushed back the expected containment date to September 30th.

TUESDAY AUGUST 16: Highway 1 is now open to traffic in the Big Sur area.

The highway closed early Monday morning because of large trees threatening power lines and telephone cables near the highway. Crews worked throughout the day and evening to lower lines, cut down trees and re-string lines.

The Fire has grown to 76,017 acres, it is still 60 percent contained.

MONDAY AUGUST 15: As of Monday morning, the fire had burned 74,604 acres and was 60 percent contained. Highway 1 was closed in the early morning hours, due to a hazardous tree.

SUNDAY AUGUST 14: By Sunday night, the fire had burned 72,566 acres and was 60 percent contained.

Firefighters worked Sunday to light back-fires on the western perimeter of the fire near Big Sur. The firing operations forced the shutdown of Highway 1 between Pt. Sur Lighthouse and North Coast Ridge Road for six hours. Cal Fire officials said the tactical firing operations were successful at 8:00 p.m. Highway 1 was reopened to traffic.

Evacuation warnings were lifted for residents in the Cachagua area Carmel Valley. Warnings remained in effect for Tassajara Road from Carmel Valley to the Tassajara Hot Springs Zen Center.

Los Padres National Forest officials closed the Arroyo Seco Campground and Day Use facility to allow crews to draw water from the Arroyo Seco River to support a nearby mobile retardant site. The campground facility will remain closed indefinitely.

SATURDAY AUGUST 13: The fire grows to 71,860 acres. Containment is 60 percent.

FRIDAY AUGUST 12: The fire has burned for three weeks. It was started July 22 by an illegal campfire. 70,615 acres have burned and 57 homes have been destroyed. It is at 55 percent containment. Highway 1 remained open Friday morning, but fire officials say closure remains an option. Fire crews expect to conduct controlled burns to protect Big Sur.

THURSDAY AUGUST 11: 69,837 acres have now burned. Containment is 55 percent.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 10: The Soberanes Fire grows to 68,698 acres. Cal Fire reports containment is still 50 percent. An overnight road closure on Highway 1 ended at 6:00 a.m. Any future closures will be evaluated based on fire conditions and the threat to public safety.

TUESDAY AUGUST 9: Fire officials announce that Highway 1 will close in both directions to all traffic–including residents–at 10:00 p.m. due to high winds and increased fire activity in the Big Sur Area. It is scheduled to reopen Wednesday at 6:00 a.m.. It is second closure of Highway 1 in as many nights.

Cal Fire’s morning update shows 67,092 acres have burned and firefighters have attained 50 percent containment.

MONDAY AUGUST 8: The fire grows to 60,900 acres. Containment is 50 percent. Due to high winds and spreading flames, officials announce that Highway 1 will be closed at 10:00 p.m. Monday night between Palo Colorado Road and North Coast Ridge Road. The highway is scheduled to reopen at 6:00 a.m. Tuesday.

Evacuation orders for Palo Colorado are lifted and residents begin returning to their homes. In Big Sur, evacuation orders are downgraded to warnings for the area east of Highway 1, south of Coast Ridge Road to Graves Canyon.

An Air Resource Advisor has been assigned to the fire and is working with air quality officials to analyze the impact smoke is having on the public.

The morning briefing shows the Soberanes Fire has grown to 60,400 acres, according to Cal Fire. It is still 45 percent contained.

SUNDAY AUGUST 7: Fire activity increases in the southwest portion of the fire overnight due to 20 mph localized winds. The fire grows to 57,500 acres by Sunday morning and 57,800 acres by Sunday night. Containment increases to 45 percent.

SATURDAY AUGUST 6: Fire officials reported the Soberanes Fire has burned 55,600 acres. It is 40 percent contained. Air quality in Salinas is classified as unhealthy. 5,636 personnel are assigned to the fire.

FRIDAY AUGUST 5: The Soberanes Fire grows to 53,690 acres. Cal Fire reports 35 percent containment. A new command base is established at Patriot Park in Greenfield, providing access to the fire’s southeast flank.

THURSDAY AUGUST 4: The Soberanes Fire expands to 51,000 acres Thursday morning, according to Cal Fire. However, firefighters are making progress. It is 27 percent contained.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3: The Soberanes Fire grows to 46,700 acres with 27 percent containment. Growth has slowed somewhat and containment has slightly increased. Earlier Wednesday morning, Cal Fire reported that 45,800 acres had burned and containment was 25 percent.Officials report the fire was started by an unattended, illegal campfire.

TUESDAY AUGUST 2: Firefighters are gaining the upper hand on the Soberanes Fire as it continues to burn in steep, rugged and inaccessible terrain. The 44,300 acre fire is now 25% contained. More than 5,400 personnel are helping fight the fire. State Parks officials reopened Point Lobos State Natural Reserve at 8a.m. but parking is prohibited on Highway 1 near the Reserve.

MONDAY AUGUST 1: Fire officials report 40,700 acres have burned. Containment is 18%. 5,292 personnel are helping fight the fire. Officials establish a third command center at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office announces that some evacuated residents can return home to portions of the Santa Lucia Preserve on Rancho San Carlos between Cantera Run and Garzas Trail.

SUNDAY JULY 31: The fire is in its tenth day. 40,000 acres have been burned and 57 homes destroyed. New evacuation orders are issued for Cachagua and Tassajara. Officials announce the closure of the evacuation center at Carmel Middle School and establish a new evacuation center at All Saints Day School in Carmel.

SATURDAY JULY 30: The fire enters its ninth day. 35,540 acres have burned. More personnel are assigned as CalFire reports that 5,343 fire personnel are assigned to the fire. Due to the large number of firefighters, a second incident command post is established at the Rancho Canada golf course. The Soberness Fire has burned an area of nearly 53 square miles. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

FRIDAY JULY: 29, 2016: Additional personnel are assigned. Units from Southern California are reassigned from the Sand Fire to the Soberanes Fire. Total personnel: 4,277. Equipment: 405 engines. The fire has burned 32,930 acres. Containment is 15 percent. Fifty-seven homes and 11 outbuildings are now destroyed. 350 people have been evacuated. State Parks officials close all state parks from Point Lobos to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Closures will be reevaluated on August 1.

THURSDAY JULY 28, 2016: The fire continues to grow as 29,877 acres have burned. CAL FIRE reports that 41 homes are destroyed. Total personnel: 4,245. Equipment: 394 engines, 67 dozers. Containment: 15 percent.

WEDNESDAY JULY 27, 2016: Total acreage: 23,288 with 10 percent containment. Total personnel assigned to the fire is now 3,516. Thirty-four homes and 10 outbuildings are reported destroyed. 2000 structures threatened.

TUESDAY JULY 26, 2016: The fire spreads to 23,500 acres with 10 percent containment. Personnel levels grow to 2,988.

Robert Reagan, 35, a private bulldozer operator from Friant, CA, dies while working on the southeast side of the fire. A second bulldozer rolls over causing minor damage and no injuries.

Crews rescue a group of backpackers. The Sheriff’s Office says they were tending to an illegal marijuana growing operation. Fire destroys the plants and no charges are filed. The estimated date for containment is delayed until August 31.

The Monterey Bay Air Resources District says the air quality in Carmel Valley reaches “unhealthy” levels due to fine particulate matter.

Acting Governor Tom Torlakson declares a State of Emergency in Monterey County.

MONDAY JULY 25, 2016: CAL FIRE and the U.S. Forest Service assume unified command. The fire has burned 16,100 acres and destroyed 20 homes. Three hundred residents have been evacuated and evacuation orders are issued for portions of Carmel Highlands, Corona Road and Riley Ranch Roads east of Highway 1. Total personnel: 2,285. New containment date: August 5.

SUNDAY JULY 24, 2016: The Soberanes Fire has now consumed 11,000 acres with five percent containment. Six homes are reported destroyed along with two outbuildings. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office expands mandatory evacuations: Rocky Creek, Garrapata Ridge Road, Garrapatos Road and Old Coast Road south to Bixby Creek Road.

Monterey County closes Toro Park. Fire officials establish a base camp.

The number of fire personnel grows to 1,367. There are 168 engines, 14 water tenders, and 11 bulldozers working the fire. The Sheriff’s Office issues pre-evacuation advisories for Rancho San Carlos, White Rock and Rancho San Clemente.

SATURDAY JULY 23, 2016: The fire spreads to 6,500 acres. Officials report five percent containment. One outbuilding is destroyed and 1,650 structures are threatened. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office orders mandatory evacuations for the community of Palo Colorado.

CAL FIRE reports that 780 personnel are assigned, along with 56 engines, 15 bulldozers, 780 personnel, 8 helicopters, 6 air tankers, 21 hand crews.

High temperatures and low humidity combine with difficult access to hamper firefighting efforts.

FRIDAY JULY 22, 2016: Shortly after 9:00 a.m., local fire agencies report a five acre wildfire burning along Highway 1 near Garrapata State Park. The park is closed to visitors and campers are escorted out. The fire is located about two miles inland from the highway in rugged, steep terrain. The American Red Cross and Monterey County Office of Emergency Services establish an evacuation center at Carmel Middle School.