CA-LPF- Gallery and Basin Fires - 2,000+ acres

INCIDENT UPDATED - Mandatory evacuations, between Partington Ridge and Graves Canyon.

Map showing location of the Gallery and Basin Fires
Credit: USFS

Fire Summary

The Gallery Fire was ignited by lightning at approximately 1:00pm on June 21, and is located about 3 miles south of Big Sur in Los Padres National Forest. The fire burned actively through the night north of Partington Ridge and northward into Grimes Canyon. Structure protection engines were in place overnight along Partington Ridge and Highway 1. Crews are holding the fire at the North Coast Ridge Road and Highway 1, however both the north and south flank of the fires remain open.
A second lightning caused fire was ignited in a very remote area of the Ventana Wilderness early afternoon yesterday. The Basin Fire is near Bear Basin Camp. Size is undetermined. No other information available at this time.
Evacuations: Mandatory evacuations, between Partington Ridge and Graves Canyon. Approximately 75 residences and businesses in the area have been evacuated. No structures are known to have been destroyed or damaged.
The Red Cross has established an evacuation center at the Big Sur Grange Hall.
Closures: Highway 1 is closed between the Ventana Inn on the north and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park on the south. The Ventana Inn is open. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is closed.

Basic Information
Incident Type: Wildland Fire
Cause: Lightning
Date of Origin: 06/21/2008 at 1300 hrs.
Location: South of Big Sur, Partington Ridge area
Incident Commander: Kremke And Finny
Current Situation
Total Personnel: 200
Size: 2,000 acres
Fuels Involved: chaparral, grass, trees
Fire Behavior: The fire burned actively through the night.
Significant Events: The Gallery Fire burned actively through the night north of Partington Ridge and north into Grimes Canyon. Structure protection engines were in place along Partington Ridge and along Highway 1. Crews are holding the fire at the North Coast Ridge Road and Highway 1; however, both the north and south flanks of the fire remain open. The fire is moving primarily northward.
Outlook
Planned Actions: Crews are holding the fire at the North Coast Ridge Road and Highway 1; however, both the north and south flanks remain open. The fire is moving primarily northward.
Terrain Difficulty: Extreme