Central Coast Fire Still Burning

Photo by CDFW
Photo by CDFW

Update: The fire appears to have been ignited by an unattended campfire (ugh):

The Soberanes Fire along the Central California coast has burned about 40,000 acres, resulting in at least one death and dozens of destroyed homes.

 

Here’s more from KGO-TV:

A man who was driving a bulldozer as a private contractor to help extinguish the fire died when his dozer overturned sometime Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, Cal Fire officials said.

Robert Oliver Reagan III, 35, of Friant in Fresno County is the only death so far.

Tuesday, acting Gov. Tom Torlakson, the state’s superintendent of public instruction, declared a state of emergency in Monterey County. Gov. Jerry Brown was away at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Firefighters have the fire 15 percent contained, according to Cal Fire officials.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported a closure in the Los Padres National Forest as firefighters attempt to control the blaze:

A forest closure order has been implemented to close the trails and roads within the Los Padres National Forest, Monterey Ranger District due to the Soberanes fire burning in Monterey County. The order prohibits going into or being upon National Forest Service lands within the Soberanes Fire area.

“Safety is our first priority and we are cooperating with emergency responders to let the public and hunters know to stay away from this area,” said Terry Palmisano, Acting Regional Manager with CDFW’s Central Region.  “We are in the middle of our A zone deer season, which runs through September and want to alert hunters of the closures.”

Be careful to all of those near the fire.