CA-LPF- CHALK - Wildland Fire - 12,012 acres - 93%

Fire update Information - for Chalk Wildland Fire Incident
Report Date: 0700 hrs 18-OCT-08
Burnt Area: 12,010 Acres (2% increase from yesterday)
Location: Monterey County, CA (22 miles Southwest of King City, Ca)
Cause: Under Investigation
Incident Team Type: IMT Type 4
Team Leader: Mark Nunez
Containment Status: 93% contained)
Expected Containment: 20-OCT-08
Fuels: Large volume of dead and down material in 0.00 338PRIM

Update: 14:00hrs - EVACUATION WARNING: CHALK FIRE - Los Padres National Forest -
Monterey County Sheriff’s Department has issued an evacuation warning in effect for the Limekiln north and the New Camaldoli Hermitage, Lucia north to Lopez Point.
Eight residences homes under mandatory evacuation, 30 homes under voluntary evacuations.
Fire was very active yesterday and last night and now has escaped containment and crossed contingency lines near Twin Peaks approximately 3000 acres have slopped over. Firefighting resources (hand crews, engines, dozer's, aircraft) are engaged in structure protection.
Engines and crews being demobilized from the Sesnon fire will go to Madera Staging for possible redeployment at the Chalk fire.
Dietrichs Type 1 Team will be possibly deployed.

News and Notes 1200hrs 10-17-08 Chalk (CA-LPF-2754) 11,760 acres, 94% contained. The Monterey County Sheriff's Department has issued an EVACUATION WARNING in effect for the Limekiln north and the New Camaldoli Hermitage. An EVACUATION WATCH has been issued for Lucia north to Lopez Point. The fire was very active last night and spread north towards Twin Peak into the west fork of Limekiln Creek testing contingency lines. Significant resources (hand crews, engines and dozers) are engaged in structure protection preparations. Air tankers and helicopters are making retardant and water drops to reduce fire intensity and slow the fire's spread. Crews are working direct (on the fire lines) where possible.

Smoke on the water as the Chalk fire takes off again.

CAL FIRE NEWS - The Chalk fire suffered a blowup yesterday, fire has crossed containment lines and heading Northwest. Reportedly Fire made short runs in Harre Canyon within the contigency lines and held with air support.
A aerial armada including ten airtankers, multiple helicopters, and aerial supervision to tackle the fire today, Ground resources demobilizing from Southern California fires also reassigned to the Chalk Fire today. Jim Smith's Type II Team was called back to the incident.

This report issued by the USFS at 11 pm on 10/16/08: “Tomorrow a firing operation may be initiated to strengthen hand line and retardant line that was established along the top of the fire from Cone Peak to Twin Peak and southwest from Twin Peak towards Highway 1. The firing operation will be completed in two phases. Because of the rugged terrain and to minimize risk to fire fighters, the first phase may be completed by helitorch. The second phase will be by crews hand firing from Twin Peak towards Highway 1. The firing operation may take several days to complete. There is no immediate threat to Limekiln, Lucia, Lopez Point or the Hermitage, however, residents should stay alert to the fire’s activity in their area. If evacuation steps are needed, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department will issue the notice.”Chalk Fire perimeters10-16-08.

Chalk Fire perimeters10-17-08.Smoke on the water as Chalk fire takes off again.

Chalk Wildland Fire, Incident map
Chalk Fire the growth potential of the fire has been raised from “low” to “medium”

Yesterday's Weather

Wind Conditions	10 (gusts) mph N
Temperature	90 degrees
Humidity	16 %