Big Sur >> The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office lifted mandatory evacuation orders and a warning for the Tassajara Road area Sunday that had been issued to protect residents from the Soberanes Fire.
The orders and warning affected the east side of Tassajara Road, from Chews Ridge to the Bruce Ranch. They also affected the area from the Bruce Ranch east along Anastasia Canyon to Carmel Valley Road and South Carmel Valley Road from Anastasia Canyon to Tash Ranch.
Warnings were lifted for the area north of Carmel Valley Road, from Hastings Preserve to Cahoon Ranch, and north of Carmel Valley Road, from Cahoon Ranch east to Tash Ranch.
Burning since July 22, the Soberanes Fire was caused by an unattended, illegal campfire in the Soberanes Creek area of Garrapata State Park. It is 77 percent contained and has burned 126,693 acres. Containment is expected by Friday.
The fire’s incident management team, directed by the U.S. Forest Service, has decided to place firefighters directly on the fire rather than doing backburning. Light wind conditions will allow crews to face the fire head on.
Such a direct attack means constructing containment lines on the fire perimeter. Among the benefits of this approach, the management team reported, include no additional area is intentionally burned; it’s safer because firefighters can escape into the burned area; and the uncertainty of firing operations can be reduced or eliminated.
The U.S. Forest Service held a community meeting on the fire Saturday at the Arroyo Seco Fire Station to explain its latest tactics and answer questions. The fire is most active near the Church Ranch west of Tassajara Road.
On Saturday, crews maintained and improved the line around a Chews Ridge spot fire and continued mop up in the area Sunday. Aircraft worked the area Saturday to cool it. Firefighters are prepared to protect the Tassajara Mountain Zen Center if the fire reaches it.
There are 2,072 people fighting the fire, which has become the most expensive wildfire in California history. The cost has reached more than $200 million. The fire has destroyed 57 homes and 11 outbuildings. It claimed the life of a dozer operator and has caused nine injuries.
