Jul 1, 2008 7:54 am US/Pacific
New Fire Evacuations Ordered In Monterey Co.
LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST (CBS 5 / BCN) ―
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office has issued a mandatory evacuation for residents along state Highway 1 between Partington Ridge Road and 1 mile south of Limekiln State Park effective Tuesday at 5 p.m., according to fire officials.
The evacuation, due to the Basin Complex Fire, will allow firefighters to conduct a burning operation as part of efforts to maintain containment lines, fire officials said.
The evacuated area includes the Esalen Institute, the Big Creek Reserve, the town of Lucia, the Immaculate Heart Hermitage and Limekiln State Park. Travel in the evacuated stretch of highway is prohibited, fire officials said.
The Basin Complex Fire, burning mostly in the Los Padres National Forest, began as two wildfires ignited by lighting June 21 that have since burned into a single 39,906-acre blaze, fire officials said. The fire, which has burned 17 structures, threatened 1,277 structures and injured 2 people, remained 3 percent contained Monday night.
Suppression costs have reached $7.9 million, according to fire officials.
The American Red Cross will open a shelter for Tuesday's evacuees at the Pacific Valley School at 69325 Highway 1 near mile marker 13.80, according to fire officials. Information about the shelter is available from the Red Cross Carmel Chapter at (831) 624-6921.
Information about the evacuation of large animals is available from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or by calling (831) 373-2631. Information after 6 p.m. is available by calling (831) 646-5534.
Residents in the Partington Ridge area remain under a mandatory evacuation due to the Basin Complex Fire, and several other areas remain under evacuation advisory. Highway 1 traffic from Nepenthe to Partington Ridge Road is restricted to emergency vehicles, service workers and residents with passes, fire officials said. Passes are available from the Big Sur visitor center.
A community meeting has been scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in Lucia, fire officials said. Daily community meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. at the Big Sur visitor center.
Meanwhile, a mandatory evacuation for residents in the Arroyo Seco Road area of Monterey County due to the Indians Fire burning about 12 miles west of King City has been downgraded to a voluntary evacuation, fire officials said Monday.
The 81,378-acre fire burning largely within the Los Padres National Forest was ignited by an escaped campfire June 8, fire officials said. The blaze was 95 percent contained Monday night and is scheduled for full containment Thursday, fire officials said.
The Indians Fire has cost $39.9 million in suppression efforts. Two structures have been destroyed, 422 structures have been threatened, and 17 people have been injured, fire officials said.
A fire evacuation advisory remains in effect for Carmel Valley Road between Arroyo Seco Road and the Tassajara Road, the Tassajara Road to the forest boundary and the Cachagua Road to the Nason Road turnoff, fire officials said in a statement Monday. The Santa Lucia area evacuation also remained in effect.
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