This evening we have an update on the Basin Complex fire and the Indians fire with an updated map showing their relative locations.
KSBW has footage of the Pico Blanco fire that many of you may have seen today from Big Sur. The flames were dancing 100 feet in the air and fire was working its way into the Gorge, easily visible from the Ranger Station.
I wasn't at the Community Meeting tonight but others have been posting their impressions of the meetings on http://www.surfire2008.org

In my previous email regarding the last sentence of the Evacuation Definitions was truncated so I'll post the whole post again here. It bears repeating.

EVACUATION DEFINITIONS

The current fire situation is requiring public safety personnel to issue evacuation information. It's critical that residents who live near the fire areas know how to react to this information. What do these evacuation notices mean?

Evacuation Advisory: This is a precautionary notice designed to give residents time to prepare for a possible evacuation. If you have special needs you might want to leave the area until the threat is passed. If you have livestock that needs transporting, you should move them.
Voluntary Evacuation: You are strongly urged to leave the area. If you choose to remain, you should be prepared to take action immediately if the danger approaches.
Mandatory Evacuation: You are in jeopardy and should leave the area immediately. If you choose to remain, you may be on your own as emergency personnel likely will not be able to help you.

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earlier report by jack:
The Community Meeting tonight was attended by more than 150 people. The Incident Commander and BSVFB Chief Frank Pinney said the fire is staying on the east side Mt. Manuel, moving north toward Pico Blanco and south toward Dolan's ridge. The firelines are nearly in place completely. The major break is along the ridge of Mt. Manuel.
An inspection team will go into the Gorge this evening to see what activity there is.
Mary Ann Vasconcellos' house seems to have been lost, as is Rona and Michael's studio.
The pass system for entering the closed road area is working well. More than 400 have been issued. If you need one, call 667 2317
Because of all the fuel load from sudden oak death and drought, Palo Colorado is in danger. The evacuation advisory has been placed on Palo Colorado - all the canyon from Highway One to the Boy Scout Camp - includes Garrapatos Road, Redwood Estates, Green Ridge, Rocky Creek Ranch, Long Ridge, Rocky Creek Road and Ray Ridge Road and everything else.
The fire has made runs toward Pico Blanco Boy Scout Camp and Palo Colorado. Dozer linesare being constructed west and north of the fire to protect Palo Colorado.
The fire on the south is moving mostly southeast into the Wilderness.

There are now 1,236 fire fighting personnel in 37 crews here. Also: 84 engines, 7 helicopters, 7 air tankers and 18 dozers.
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another report on Toby and Linda Rowland-Jones. They're more than OK. He's fighting the fire and she's at Redwood Grill (Fernwood) blogging with her spotted spaniel, Kipling. The pot bellied pig was rescued.
http://www.survision-bigsur.blogspot.com/
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Our friend, Mike Gilson, who lost his home on Partington Ridge, needs help with heavy-duty brush clearing at South Coast property.
Looking for one or more persons to do weedwacking and brush clearing on a South Coast property later today - Sunday - or tomorrow - Monday. I will provide transport, all tools, etc...and can pay hourly if someone needs income.

Mike Gilson
Phone: 667-0737 or 831-915-
Email: mikegilson@yahoo.com
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Posted by Margie, 4 pm, 6/29

http://thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080629/NEWS01/806...

June 29, 2008

UPDATE: Red Cross prepared to open new fire evacuation center if needed
The Red Cross has announced it's prepared to open an evacuation center at Carmel Valley Middle School, 4380 Carmel Valley Road, if further evacuation advisories or orders be given for the Big Sur area.
National Forest Service officials this morning issued a fire evacuation advisory for the Palo Colorado Canyon from Highway 1 to the Pico Blanco Boy Scout Camp. This includes: Garrapatos Road, Redwood Estates, Green Ridge, Rocky Creek Ranch, Long Ridge, Rocky Creek Road, Ray Ridge Road and others in the canyon.

Evacuations remain in place in the Partington Ridge area.

An evacuation advisory is still in effect for residents along both sides of the Highway 1 corridor from Nacimiento-Fergusson Road north to Nepenthe turnout.

As of this morning, the Basin Complex fire in the Big Sur area had burned nearly 32,500 acres — consuming nearly 2,500 acres in 12 hours, the Forest Service said. So far 16 structures have been destroyed. The blaze remains only 3 percent con-tained and has made some runs on the northwest flank toward Pico Blanco Boy Scout Camp and Palo Colorado areas.

Efforts to combat the southern portion of the fire will concentrate near Nacimiento-Fergusson Road.

Public meetings are held daily at 7 p.m. at the Big Sur Visitor Center/Multi-Agency Facility.

Major concerns in the Pico Blanco and Palo Colorado areas include structures, heavy fuel loads due to sudden oak death, threats to the communities of Big Sur and Palo Colorado and the Carmel watershed.

Active fire behavior on the southern end is limiting opportunities for containment actions. The fire moved south of Dolan Ridge where crews were putting in a dozer line. Crews will continue to hold the fire near Dolan Ridge, but are also construct-ing line along Nacimiento-Fergusson Road.

Firefighters have nearly completed hazard reduction around structures in the Tassajara area.

Dozer line construction will continue from Laurel Springs northwest to Los Padres Dam along Chews Ridge and from the MIRA Observatory east along the ridge north of Piney Creek following existing dozer lines where possible.

Highway 1 will remain closed from Nepenthe to Lucia. Closures are subject to change at any time based on fire conditions. Residents can obtain a pass from the Big Sur Visitor Center to allow for access through the closure.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is closed. All national forest lands north of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road are closed to public access.

Meanwhile, progress continues to be made in containing the Indians Fire west of King City, with full containment ex-pected by Thursday, July 3.

Arroyo Seco Road is closed to the public from the junction of Arroyo Seco Road and Carmel Road to the west.

All national forest lands north of the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road are closed to public access.

Arroyo Seco-Indians and Cone Peak Roads are closed.

Memorial Campground, Escondido Campground, and Arroyo Seco Campground and Day Use Area are closed.

Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is open, as well as coastal campgrounds and day use areas south of this road.

Closures are subject to change at any time based on fire conditions.

The Monterey-San Benito Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross' Evacuation Site at Greenfield Elementary School at 490 El Camino Real in Greenfield closed at 8 p.m. Friday. Individuals or families requiring disaster-related assistance due to the Indians Fire are asked to call 831-809-5861.