CA-LPF-Pfeiffer Big Sur Monterey County - 917 acres, and is 100% contained.34 Residences /4 outbuildings destroyed. [FINAL] #CaFire

Pfeiffer Fire CA-LPF-003810 Los Padres National Forest Monterey County#PfeifferFire #CaFire

LCES: DRY CONDITIONS WITH LOW HUMIDITIES CAN BE EXPECTED AT THE BURN-SITE OVER THE NEXT 36 HOURS. BIGGER CHALLENGE ARE WINDS WITH BIG SUR RAWS NEAR FIRE INDICATING VERY ERRATIC WINDS OVER THE PAST DAY.

Pfeiffer Fire Mandatory evacuation order in place for Sycamore Canyon, Clear Ridge and Pfeiffer Ridge. Red Cross at Big Sur Grange Hall

Update 12/20 1800: Fire has burned 917 acres, and is 100% contained.
Central Coast Team 7, IC (Nunez), remains in command of the fire
Damage assessment teams have completed their preliminary evaluation of damaged property. 34 Residences and 4 outbuildings were destroyed.
The numbers reflected above represent structures documented as of this date.

A re-population plan was initiated today for Clear Ridge, Middle Ridge, and Front Hill areas. Efforts are being made to return residents to their property as soon as possible with safety as a primary concern. Sycamore, River Inn and Pfeiffer roads remain closed.

Evacuations in Pfeiffer Ridge Community continue. Smoldering observed throughout the interior as fire has several pockets of fuel that continue to burn out within containment lines. A Suppression Rehab plan is being implemented in coordination with local forest resource advisers.

A public meeting is being held again tonight to inform and educate the local residents as well as take input from the community. A significant DEMOB will take place tomorrow beginning at 0600 hrs. Connectivity has continued to be a challenge on this incident.

Tentatively management of this fire is scheduled to transition to a local type 3 incident organization on 12-22-2013 at 0600. A close out is scheduled for Sunday 22nd 2013 at 10:00 hrs

This will be the last report unless conditions change

Update 12/20 0800: Fire has burned 917 acres, and is 93% contained

Central Coast Team 7, IC (Nunez), remains in command of the fire

Aircraft and ground crews have finalized the majority of fire line utilizing GIS Data.

The 20 acre reduction is a result of more detailed data. An additional correction may take

place today after crew complete line. Assessment teams will continue to evaluate damaged or destroyed structures and other property or infrastructure

Update 12/18 1800: 843 acres, 74% contained. Central Coast Team 7, IC (Nunez) in command of the fire.
200 homes, 20 commercial properties and 20 outbuildings remain threatened with 22 structures destroyed. Suppression efforts continue to be hampered by steep, inaccessible terrain, narrow roads. Predicted weather is expected to produce sustained wind at 20 mph, gusting to 40. Fire is actively burning along Hwy 1 causing hazards due to the combination of public traffic and firefighting crews working along the roadside. CHP and Cal Trans are working to mitigate hazards.
Falling snags are creating safety hazards for crews constructing lines and performing mop up.Sycamore, River Inn and Pfeiffer roads remain closed.
Evacuations of residences in Pfeiffer Ridge Community continue.
Crews were able to make good progress constructing lines in all divisions. Crews started mop up and hold operations in division all divisions.
Structure defense preparation continues as well.
Rehab plans are being developed in coordination with local forest resource advisors.
A public meeting was held again tonight to inform and educate the local residents as well as take input from the community. This will continue until no longer needed.
Update 12/18 1000: Per the IC (Nunez) fire has burned 850 acres and is 50% contained
Central Coast Team 7, IC (Nunez) in command of the fire. 

• 200 homes, 20 commercial properties and 20 outbuildings remain threatened.
• Sycamore, River Inn and Pfeiffer roads remain closed.
• Evacuations of residences in Pfeiffer Ridge Community continue.
• Ground resources continue to construct line, mop up hot spots threatening lines, strengthen existing lines and provide structure protection.

Values at risk: Pfeiffer Ridge Community, power lines, cell towers, watershed, cultural resources; steelhead, red legged frogs, condors, habitat, fish hatchery Andrew Molera State Park and Hwy 1.
Cost unit has arrived at the incident and actual costs
will be more accurately captured and reflected in future reports.

Update 12/18 0800: 769 acres, 20% contained with full containment anticipated Friday

Central Coast Team 7, IC (Nunez),in command of the fire.

22 structures destroyed (including 13 residences)

200 homes, 20 commercial properties and 20 outbuildings remain threatened.

Sycamore, River Inn and Pfeiffer roads remain closed.

Evacuations of residences in Pfeiffer Ridge Community continue.

Air assets were used to fullest extent possible as smoke conditions warranted.

Crews were able to make good progress in constructing lines. Crews scouted and cut lines while evaluating and prepping structures for fire defense. 

Values at risk Pfeiffer Ridge Community, power lines, cell towers, watershed, cultural resources; steelhead, red legged frogs, condors, habitat, fish hatchery Andrew Molera State Park and Hwy 1

Suppression efforts continue to be hampered by steep, inaccessible terrain, narrow roads, area is endemic to sudden oak death; weather conditions continue to support erratic fire behavior, low humidity recovery at night, high media attention.

Crews made good progress containing fire perimeter along the south end ahead of an anticipate trough approaching the west coast.

The American Red Cross has set up an evacuation service center at Fernwood Resort.

Plans are being developed for a damage assessment team to evaluate damaged and destroyed structures.

Trigger points were developed with coordination from Monterey County SO.

A re-population plan from the fires of 2008 is being evaluated and will be a template for this incident

Update 12/17 1800: 20 percent contained at 769 acres. 22 structures lost. Full containment expected Friday evening.
Update 12/17 0800: Highway 1 at Pfeiffer Ridge Road, 4 miles south of Big Sur
Quick Look:

• 500 acres, 5% contained.
• 200 homes, 20 commercial properties and 20 outbuildings remain threatened.
• Central Coast Team 7, IC (Nunez), took command of the fire at 0600 this morning.
• ICP established at Big Sur Station.
• Fire behavior indicates fire running, spotting up to 1/4 mile, erratic fire behavior.
• Values at risk Pfeiffer Ridge community. Also South towards Sycamore Road. power lines, cell towers, watershed, steelhead and red legged frogs, condors, cultural resources, Andrew MoleraState Park, Hwy 1, fish hatchery
• Damage assessment is under way.

Update 12/16 1800: 500 acres, 5% contained. Steep, inaccessible terrain, narrow roads. Nunez IMT2 ordered. 625 firefighters & support personnel assigned The cause of the fire remains under investigation At last count, between 15–20 homes have been destroyed in the Pfeiffer Ridge area including the home of Fire Chief Martha Karstens. Although her home has been lost to the fire, Chief Karstens remains on the fireground managing fire suppression resources along with the US Forest Service and CAL FIRE. Big Sur Volunteers Info Page At http://bigsurfire.org/

Update 12/16 1400: 15 homes, 500 acres. BSVFB Fire Chief Martha Karstens home is reportedly one of them. Fire jumped lower Pfeiffer Ridge and is heading west. 
Update 12/16 1100: 12 homes destroyed including the fire chief of Big Sur.  burning along Pfeiffer Ridge Road and Sycamore Canyon Road just off Highway 1. Highway 1 remains open at this time. 
Update 12/16 1000: Evacuations Over 500 acres, no containment figures, multiple structures reported involved. 

Big Sur (Dec. 16, 2013)

Toby Rowland-Jones

Update 12/16 0700: 100 - 200 acres, Evacuations 200 acres, no containment figures, one structure reported involved. Large resource orders last night 

Big Sur Pfeiffer Fire Los Padres National ForestCredit: Modified from
James Mearns @fogspotter twitter image

Location: - Pfeiffer Ridge Rd. West of Big Sur Lodge and Highway 1 near Big Sur , Monterey County.

GPS: 36°15'6"N 121°47'59"W [Lat/Lon: 36 15 07/121 48 00]
Updated: Lat: 36.25
Long: -121.8
Date/TimeStart: December 15, 2013 11:50 pm 
ROC: - 200 acres, immediate structure threats
ROS: - Moderate

Evacuations: Yes
Structure Threats: - Yes

Total Fire Personnel:	130
Total Fire Engines:	13
Total Fire crews:	6
Total Dozers:	1

Additional Resource Notes: - BEU assisting LPF XMY Strike Team on its way
Current ROSS for Crews, Equipment and Overhead:

C-1 Filled Crew, Strike Team, Type 1 1 / 1 CREW S/T - T1 - 9394G
C-2 Filled Crew, Strike Team, Type 1 1 / 1 CREW S/T - T1 - 9174 G
C-3 Cancelled Crew, Type 1 1 / 0 Cancelled
C-4 Cancelled Crew, Type 1 1 / 0 Cancelled
C-5 Pending Crew, Strike Team, Type 1 1 / 0 Pending
E-1 Filled Engine, Strike Team, Type 3 1 / 1 ENGINE S/T - T3 - 2176C
E-2 Filled Engine, Strike Team, Type 3 1 / 1 ENGINE S/T - T3 - 4650 C
E-3 Filled Engine, Strike Team, Type 3 1 / 1 ENGINE S/T - T3 - 1629 C
E-4 Filled Engine, Type 3 1 / 1 ENGINE - T3 - ENGINE 17 (ENGINE - 17) (CA-LPCC)
E-5 Filled Engine, Type 6 1 / 1 ENGINE - T6 - ENGINE 17 (ENGINE - 17) (CA-LPCC)
E-6 Filled Engine, Type 7 1 / 1 ENGINE - T7 - ENGINE 19 (ENGINE - 19) (CA-LPCC)
E-7 Filled Tender, Water (Tactical), Type Any 1 / 1 WATER TENDER - TACTICAL - T2 - WATER TENDER 5 (WATER TENDER - 5) (CA-LPCC)
E-8 Pending Tender, Water (Tactical), Type Any 1 / 0 Pending
E-9 Pending Dozer, Type 2 1 / 0 Pending
E-10 Pending Dozer, Type 2 1 / 0 Pending
E-11 Pending Tender, Fuel 1 / 0 Pending
O-1 Filled AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE (AREP) (T-A) 1 / 1 Carreiro, Dennis (CA-BECC) (T)
O-2 Filled Module, Suppression 1 / 1 Monterey Crew 1 (Suppression Module) (CA-LPCC)
O-3 Filled INCIDENT COMMANDER, TYPE 3 (ICT3) 1 / 1 Schwarm IV, Conrad H (CA-LPCC)
O-4 Filled DIVISION/GROUP SUPERVISOR (DIVS) 1 / 1 Gerwe, Mark (CA-LPCC)
O-5 Pending DIVISION/GROUP SUPERVISOR (DIVS) 1 / 0 Pending
O-6 Pending DIVISION/GROUP SUPERVISOR (DIVS) 1 / 0 Pending
O-7 Cancelled DIVISION/GROUP SUPERVISOR (DIVS) 1 / 0 Cancelled
O-8 Pending SAFETY OFFICER, LINE (SOFR) 1 / 0 Pending
O-9 Pending SAFETY OFFICER, LINE (SOFR) 1 / 0 Pending
O-10 Pending PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (PIOF) 1 / 0 Pending
O-11 Filled WILDLAND FIRE INVESTIGATOR (INVF) 1 / 1 Lomvardias, Alexander (CA-LPCC)
O-12 Filled DRIVER/OPERATOR (DRIV) 1 / 1 VanPelt, Joni M (CA-LPCC)
O-13 Filled DRIVER/OPERATOR (DRIV) (T-A) 1 / 1 Shaughnessy Olson, Lynn C (CA-LPCC) (T)
O-14 Filled DRIVER/OPERATOR (DRIV) 1 / 1 Tarbet, Helen (CA-LPCC)
O-15 Pending DRIVER/OPERATOR (DRIV) (Horenberger, Paul A (CA-ANCC)) 1 / 0 Pending
O-16 Pending HELIBASE MANAGER, 1 TO 5 HELICOPTERS (HEB2) 1 / 0 Pending

Weather: DRY CONDITIONS WITH GUSTY WINDS / LOW HUMIDITY EXPECTED AT

THE BURN-SITE OVER THE NEXT 36 HOURS. 

BIGGER CHALLENGE ARE WINDS WITH BIG SUR RAWS NEAR THE FIRE INDICATING VERY ERRATIC WINDS OVER THE PAST DAY. THEREFORE LOW CONFIDENCE WITH WIND DIRECTION TODAY. HOWEVER, OVERALL DIRECTION SHOULD BE GENERALLY FROM THE SOUTHEAST OR EAST-SOUTHEAST TODAY AND TONIGHT DUE TO OFFSHORE FLOW EXPECTED TO CONTINUE. WINDS ARE FORECAST TO SWITCH TO THE WEST TO SOUTHWEST BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON AS AN ONSHORE FLOW STARTS TO RETURN.

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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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