Central California fire threatens 1650 homes

About 300 miles up the coast, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighters battled a almost three-square-mile blaze in rugged mountains north of the majestic Big Sur region. An evacuation center has been opened at Carmel Middle School at 4380 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel-By-The-Sea for residents affected by the fire.

Containment for the Soberanes Fire, which is burning in an area north of Big Sur and near Garrapata State Park, is at least five percent. Authorities said the blaze had grown to about 6,500 acres as of Saturday evening and was threatening 1,650 structures.

About 300 homes were under mandatory or voluntary evacuations, but none had burned.

“It’s certainly going to present some challenges for us to try to deal with this fire”, said Jonathan Pangburn, a Cal Fire spokesman. No structures are threatened, no injuries have been reported and there are no evacuations. The fire spread mostly to the east and south throughout the day and overnight.

According to Dykema, Saturday’s forecast for the area calls for winds below 15 miles per hour with gusts possibly reaching 20 miles per hour in the afternoon.

In Salinas, Toro Regional Park is closed starting Sunday and is being used as as home base camp for Cal Fire crews. “People have been very nice about offering services and a place to stay”.

A few Palo Colorado residents were outside the shelter Saturday afternoon. “It’s not slowing down”, county fire inspector Joey Marron said late Friday.

Residents are encouraged to leave the area as soon as possible and be sure to take any medications, pets, family valuables, etc. They are also asked to close all windows including window coverings and leave all doors closed and unlocked.

Brock Bradford, who lives in a historic house in Palo Colorado, said he evacuated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. “I hope I don’t have to rebuild my house”.