Chalk Fire Update - Oct. 18 - 8:00pm
Incident: Chalk Wildland Fire
Released: 10/18/2008
CHALK FIRE UPDATE
Monterey Ranger District, Los Padres National Forest
Saturday, October 18, 2008, 8:00pm
Goleta Fire Information Center: 805-961-5770 (8am-8pm)
Fire information online: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1551/
Fire Statistics (10/18 @1300)
Acres burned: 13,410
Miles of fireline to build: 6.9 miles
Date started: 9/27/08 (evening)
Percent contained: 80
Expected containment: 11/01/2008
Firefighter injuries to date: 17
Structures threatened: 49
Structures destroyed: 0
Suppression cost to date: $17.6
Firefighting Resources (10/18 @1300)
Crews: 9
Engines: 24
Helicopters: 11
Air tankers:
Dozers: 4
Total personnel assigned: 495
Current Status: Tonight crews will continue to monitor the fire activity in the area north of Cone Peak and continue preparing pre-existing dozer lines above the New Camaldoli Hermitage.
Fire behavior is expected to be minimal tonight on the lower slopes due to higher relative humidity and cooler temperatures. The fire will continue to smolder in the heavier fuels at all elevations.
Firefighter and public safety continue to be the highest priority.
Evacuations: On Friday, October 17, The Monterey County Sheriff's Department issued an EVACUATION WARNING for Limekiln State Park north to the New Camaldoli Hermitage. Approximately 9 residents are within the evacuation area. This stage of Evacuation Warning is given for affected areas where there is imminent threat to life and property. Persons who receive notification of this warning should evacuate in accordance with the direction given to them by Sheriff's Department Deputies who are on scene.
An EVACUATION WATCH was also issued by the Monterey County Sheriff's Department for Lucia north to Lopez Point. This stage of Evacuation Watch is for areas where a threat to life and property exists. Persons who receive notification of this watch are not required to evacuate but should be prepared to evacuate should an Evacuation Warning be issued. Significant resources (hand crews, engines and dozers) are engaged in structure protection.
Highway, Road and Area Closures: Highway-1 is open. Nacimiento-Fergusson Road remains closed, as well as South Coast Ridge Road, south to Willow Creek Road.
Weather: Tonight, light drizzle on the coast below 2,500 ft; cloudy with fog and above 2,500 feet, it will be clear. Winds will start to shift to west-northwest; Sunday's winds will be from the north and by Tuesday the winds will be from the northeast with the beginning of warmer and drier weather. Temperature is predicted to be 54 degrees and the relative humidity 80 percent.
Agencies: The incident is currently being managed by a U.S. Forest Service, Type-2, Incident Command Team. Incident Commander Dana D'Andrea (USFS) of Central Coast Interagency Incident Management Team 7, assumed command of the incident at 6:00am today, Saturday, October 18, 2008.
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