CA-LPF- Basin Complex - 147,114 acres, 72%

CA-LPF- Basin Complex Fire - Wildland Fire -

Update - 0700hrs 7-24-08 - Basin Complex (CA-LPF-1649) is at 147,114 acres and 72% containment.
Burnout operations were successful and an increase in fire activity occurred due to higher temperatures and lower relative humidity. Active fire was observed in the interior of the fire with frequent isolated torching and intense uphill runs when in proper alignment. Fire was generally backing in Carmel River and Miller Canyons. Increased fire activity was also observed in the area of Arroyo Seco.

CAL FIRE NEWS SUMMARY
- BASIN/INDIANS FIRE COMPLEX MAP-e
Geomac thermal Satellite perimeters
Size 139,169 acres Percent Contained 72%

Current Situation
Total Personnel 1,793
Size 139,169 acres
Percent Contained 72%
Estimated Containment Date Wednesday July 30th, 2008 approx 12:00 AM

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	Saturday June 21st, 2008 aprox 12:56 PM
Location	15 miles NW of King City
Incident Commander	Pincha - Tulley / Hutchin

Current Situation

6’ Chaparral, accumulated dead Tan Oak from sudden oak death, with timber and slash in the higher areas.

Burnout operations were successful and an increase in fire activity occurred due to lower relative humidity. Active fire was observed in the interior of the fire. Fire was generally backing in Carmel River and Miller Canyons. Increased fire activity was also observed in the area of Arroyo Seco.

Burning operations continued from Miller Canyon to the Los Padres Dam and firing operations north of the dam have been completed. Crews continued to burn out and improve containment lines in the area of Miller Canyon and initiated burn operations for structure protection in Tanbark. In the area of Arroyo Seco on the eastern perimeter, an increase of interior fire activity was reported along with a quarter acre spot fire that was contained. A Voluntary Evacuation remains in effect for all residents off of Carmel Valley Road from Arroyo Seco in the south to Cachagua Road junction in the north. A structure contingency plan is in place for Upper and Lower Cachagua, Zen, Tanbark, Freds, Miller, White Rock, and Santa Lucia.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Today’s operations include continued patrol and mop up in the areas of Paloma Creek, River, and Miller Canyons. Burnout operations South the Los Padres Dam to the southern portion of Miller Canyon are progressing. The Southern perimeter will be patrolled by air and in the northern portion of the Indians Fire we will continue to scout and determine needs for rehab. Contingency resources are being provided for the affected areas of Tanbark and Cachagua.
Growth Potential	High
Terrain Difficulty	High
Remarks	The East Basin Complex is in unified command with Pincha-Tulley (CIIMT3), Hutchinson (CalFire), Oakley (Monterey County Sheriff’s Office), and Boone (type 3 organization-West Zone). Acreage, personnel, and costs reflect the totals for the East and West Zones of the Basin Complex Fire, but excludes the Indians Fire.

Basin Complex Fire UPDATE - Monterey Ranger District, Los Padres National Forest

Wednesday, July 23, 2008, 7:00 am

On the Web: www.inciweb.org, www.fire.ca.gov, www.co.monterey.ca.us

Inciweb directly to the Basin Complex Fire at http://165.221.39.44/incident/1367/

Fire Information Phone Line 8am-7pm: (805) 961-5770

Information Specific to Monterey County Evacuations (EOC) 7am-5pm: (831) 796-1991

Information Specific to Palo Colorado area, call Mid Coast Fire Department at (831) 626-1961

Fire Stats

Acres burned: 139,167

Acreage increase (last 12 hours): 947

Fireline to build: 0 miles

Date started: 6/21/2008

Percent contained: 72%

Expected containment: 7/30/2008

Injuries: 9

Structures threatened: 1627

Structures destroyed: 26 residences, 32 other

Resources

Crews: 48

Engines: 116

Helicopters: 10

Dozers: 16

Total Personnel Assigned: 1,793

Suppression cost to date: $69.4 million

Unified Command: USFS, CAL FIRE, and the Monterey County Sheriff's Office

Current Status:

· Burnout operations were conducted yesterday along Blue Rock Ridge to Los Padres Reservoir and progress was made in the burnout along Chew's Ridge north of the Mira Observatory. The smoke from these operations carried over Carmel Valley Village.

· Today burnout will continue from Miller Canyon to the Los Padres Dam and smoke will be visible.

· Burnout operations are continuing around Tanbark and Arroyo Seco to widen protection zones.

· Fire suppression repair work is ongoing for the Indians Fire, focusing on dozer line repair and repair of firelines in Arroyo Seco. Repair work and mopup continue on the West Basin Fire.

· Today will be warmer and drier with temperatures of 85-100 degrees. Minimum humidity will be 7-15 percent. Ridgetop winds will be northwest at 4-8 mph, gusting up to 12 mph. The upslope and upcanyon winds will be 10-3 mph in the morning, becoming 3-7 mph with gusts to 10 mph in the afternoon.

· Due to the heavy fire suppression traffic and activity in the Cachagua area, residents should use extreme caution when traveling. For firefighter and public safety, residents are asked to refrain from approaching firelines, dozer lines and firefighting resources while burnout operations are being conducted. Firefighters need to be focused on keeping the fire within containment lines and visitors could distract them at a critical time.

Evacuations:

· The following areas are under VOLUNTARY evacuation: Carmel Valley Road from the intersection of San Clemente Road (Sleepy Hollow) south to the intersection of Arroyo Seco Road; Arroyo Seco Road west of the junction with Carmel Valley Road; and Cachagua Road and Tassajara Road down to the Zen Center.

· Emergency Passes issued by the Monterey County Sheriff's Department are required for residents and their employees to enter the voluntary evacuation areas along the Carmel Valley Road and Cachagua Road. These passes are available from officers at checkpoints located at the intersection of Carmel Valley Road and Sleepy Hollow Road, and Carmel Valley Road and Arroyo Seco Road. Passes will be available until 9pm.

Evacuation Assistance:

· If anyone needs the assistance of the American Red Cross, they may call (831) 809-5861 in Greenfield or (831) 624-6921 or (925) 407-5153 in Carmel Valley.

· The SPCA animal rescue team is providing assistance with pets and livestock at no charge. Contact the SPCA at (831) 373-2631 or (831) 646-5534 (after hours).

Other Highway, Road and Area Closures:

· All national forest lands on the Monterey Ranger District are closed to public access except several picnic areas on the Big Sur coast along Highway 1. (See "Recreation Facilities Currently Open.")

· The Santa Lucia Tract is closed to public entry. Permit holders may contact the King City office of the Monterey District at (831) 385-5434 for access information.

Recreation Facilities Currently Open:

· National Forest day use areas are open at Pfeiffer Beach, Mill Creek, Sand Dollar Beach, Jade Cove Beach, Willow Creek and San Carpoforo Beach. Camping is prohibited. Wood campfires and charcoal barbecues are prohibited, but gas stoves are permitted.

· Andrew Molera State Park is open at the main park entrance on the west side of Highway 1. The following trails are open: Creamery Meadow, Bluff, Panoramic, Ridge, River trail system and Molera Beach.

· The Buzzard's Roost Trail at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is open on the west side of Highway 1.

· At Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Partington Cove on the west side of Highway 1 is open.

· All other State Parks in the fire area remain closed indefinitely.

Evacuations and closures are subject to change depending on fire conditions.

For up-to-date tourist information for the area, visit the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce website at www.bigsurcalifornia.org or Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau website at www.montereyinfo.org.