CA-BEU-Colorado - Vegetation Fire - Carmel area

A fire that spread through more than 50 acres of wildland off Palo Colorado Road is now 80 percent contained, according to representatives from the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Updates:
Wednesday final post: 50 acres in the Big Sur mountain area, is now 100 percent contained and controlled.

1230 hrs 10-9:

LODD - BEU - Matthew Richard Will - Heavy fire equipment operator

CAL FIRE Line of Duty Death -

Matthew Richard Will, a heavy fire equipment operator with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), died this morning as the result of a bulldozer rollover in Monterey County yesterday afternoon.Will, 30, was battling the Colorado Fire in Monterey County on Monday, Oct. 8, 2007, when his bulldozer overturned. He was airlifted to San Jose Regional Medical Center for treatment and died this morning from injuries sustained in the rollover.

A Cal Fire heavy equipment operator was listed in serious condition after his bulldozer overturned during the firefighting operations, according to Jan Bray, information officer for the department.

The identity of the equipment operator was not released.

The fire started about 12:45 p.m. Monday. Bray said the fire apparently originated in a burning structure and spread quickly through brushland.

A precautionary evacuation was issued temporarily, but the advisement was later canceled.

About 270 firefighters are still at the fire site. Full containment is expected by 6 p.m. today.

• Palo Colorado Canyon Road road is closed to traffic and will remain closed until the fire is contained.
  
• Dozer rollover: At least one person is reportedly being sent to a hospital by air after the bulldozer he was driving overturned during the firefighting operations.

Officials said they expect the fire to be contained in about five hours.

Geo Mac screen shot Colorado Fire map
UPDATED: HMS 2007-10-08; Thermal MODIS: 2007-10-08 1905 (GMT); Fire Perimeters 2007-10-05; Sit Reports 2007-10-04

View large Google Map
Location: Junction of SR-1 and Palo Colorado Rd...Extending 11.5 miles east of hwy 1 in Carmel, Monterey county North of Big Sir - Palo Colorado Canyon Road mid way between Carmel and Big Sur
Sizeup: 1215 hrs Fully involved structure fire on arrival, 2 acres forest vegetation - Heavy Timber with structures
Resources: CAL FIRE has 18 engines, 6 hand crews, 4 dozers enroute or at scene., Ordered 2 additional tankers for total of 4, plus 1 addt'l copter for total of 2.
LPF sending Monterey hand crew, 2 Engines, H-527
1800 hrs: LNU dispatched Type 3 Engine Strike Team initial attack.
2145 hrs More strike teams forming up in SCU, MMU for BEU
Comm: command 2 tone 2
Weather:

51.6 °F / 10.9 °C Mostly Cloudy
Humidity: 76%

NWS Statement as of 12:45 PM PDT on October 08, 2007
... Rain and wind Tuesday evening ...
A strong early season cold front is forecast to move into the North Bay Tuesday afternoon then spread southward.|The rain band is expected to reach the Monterey Bay region late Tuesday night into the very early morning hours of Wednesday.
In addition to the rainfall... southerly wind gusts to 35 mph will be possible during the frontal passage. Brief periods of heavy rain will also be possible as the front passes
over the region. The rain band is expected to reach the Monterey Bay region late
Tuesday night into the very early morning hours of Wednesday with
only lingering showers left by the Wednesday morning commute.

Updates: 8:11PM CHP INFO FOR S UNIT/ PER OIC RDWY WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC CAR & FOOT TILL 0300 HRS
Jumped the retardant line and has potential for 50-75 acres.
At least 30 acres have been burned and at least one structure was destroyed, though the building is not a home.

Dozer rollover: Video interview of dozer operations eyewitness here...At least one person is reportedly being sent to a hospital by air after the bulldozer he was driving overturned during the firefighting operations.

The incident commander at the scene said firefighters believe the fire may have been ignited by a malfunctioning spa. The fire is running uphill, away from the populated area of the canyon and no evacuations were ordered.