Fire burns 800 acres near coast
Fire burns 800 acres near coast
29 September 2008
published by www.montereyherald.com
USA — With ash still smoldering from this summer’s Basin Complex and Indians fires, another blaze ignited in Los Padres National Forest over the weekend, burning about 800 acres and prompting evacuations in the county’s southern coastal area.
The fire broke out around 7:30p.m. Saturday near Chalk Peak, about three miles inland and one mile south of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, said Joe Pasinato, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service.
The cause of the fire, which was reportedly at zero containment Sunday night, is under investigation, Pasinato said. About 700 firefighters have been dispatched to the fire.
Mandatory evacuations were issued along Nacimiento-Fergusson and Southcoast Ridge roads. The two roads are closed, but Highway 1 remains open.
An evacuation order was also given to the Pruitt Ridge, Mill Creek and Alms Ridge areas, where about 20 residences are located. Most of the residents chose to stay said Forest Service spokeswoman Kathy Good.
Advisory evacuations were issued to several coastal areas, including the New Camaldoli Hermitage, Limekiln State Park, the Mill Creek campgrounds and the Harland property. Advisory evacuations are issued in areas that are not facing imminent danger, but occupants of those areas should be prepared to leave.
No structures are known to have been damaged by the fire, Pasinato said.
