Summary: The COLORADO FIRE started on 1/22/2021 around 1719 hours PT, in Palo Colorado Canyon in the Big Sur area, south of Carmel-by-the-sea in Monterey County, California.
The fire had jumped Highway 1 and began burning on both sides of the roadway. Containment began increasing, however, there were still active portion of the fire that remained a concern for fire officials.
The northern edge of the fire along lower Palo Colorado Canyon continued to burn and a growing concern until containment was achieved by firefighters on Sunday early morning.
Flareups in the southeastern and northwestern areas would become a challenge throughout most of the day, with it backing down towards Hwy 1.
Challenges still remain with steep and rugged terrain.
Photo Credit: Mid Coast Fire Brigade
Current Status: 700 acres. 40% containment.
Incident Cooperators: CAL FIRE, CAL OES, Mid Coast Fire Brigade, Big Sur Volunteer Fire Department, Monterey County Regional Fire District, North Monterey County Fire District, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, and California State Parks.
Resources Assigned: CAL FIRE 3 Copters, 53 engines, 4 dozers, 9 water tenders, 476 personnel, and 15 crews. Unified Command between CAL FIRE BEU and Mid Coast Fire.
Emergency Alerts: Receive Monterey County fire info text alerts. Text MCWILDFIRE to 888777.
Incident Summary: A structure fire has spread into the wildland interface on 1/21/2022 at 1719 hours PT, approx. 2 miles east of SR1 in Monterey County, CA. CHP units responded to a “Report of a Fire” call at 1926 hours in the 37800 block of Palo Colorado Rd. This is burning on the edge of the 2016 Soberanes Fire burn scar.
Credit: CALtrans District 5 PIO
This fire is named the COLORADO FIRE but is also being called BIG SUR FIRE, COLORADO IC according to Social Media.
Current Status: 1 structure has been damaged. CHP has been released from this incident and is reporting this is now closed. This morning, CHP was dispatched to the roadway in Palo Colorado to Bixby Bridge due to large boulders had blocked all lanes in various locations. CALtrans was dispatched.
Evacuations: Mandatory evacuations for all areas west of 3800 Palo Colorado Rd to Hwy1 and south to Bixby Creek were issued by Monterey Fire Officials.
Shelters: Red Cross Shelter at the Carmel Middle School, 4380 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel, CA 93923. The SPCA Monterey County is also onsite with an Animal Support Trailer and personnel to co-shelter.
Emergency Alerts: Receive Monterey County fire info text alerts. Text MCWILDFIRE to 888777.
Road Closures: Hwy 1 from Molera Park Entrance. From Coast Road to Granite Canyon Bridge per Caltrans. No estimated ETA is known.
Mapping: The fire location can be found here on this CAL Fire map.
CAL Fire: Unified Command San Benito-Monterey unit with Mid Coast FD.
Incident Summary: A structure fire has spread into the wildland interface on 1/21/2022 at 1719 hours PT, approx. 2 miles east of SR1 in Monterey County, CA. CHP units responded to a “Report of a Fire” call at 1926 hours in the 37800 block of Palo Colorado Rd. This is burning on the edge of the 2016 Soberanes Fire burn scar.
This fire is named the COLORADO FIRE but is also being called BIG SUR FIRE, COLORADO IC according to Social Media.
Current Status: 1,500 acres with a 5% containment status.
Fire Behavior Analysis: Active behavior overnight. Photos on Social Media indicate pretty surreal fire behavior given the wet October and December observed across the region. Per historical fire, data appears the fire is burning south of Palo Colorado and towards Bixby Creek along Long Ridge in an area with little or no fire history. It seems as though the recent rains and cold winter weather aren’t helping to keep fires from developing. It appears the fire started last evening during peak offshore winds and a very low RH. The strongest winds have ended in the vicinity of the Colorado Fire. As of 0300 hours on Saturday, the current weather is showing RH values of 42-52% with southerly winds around 5 mph. These light south winds will represent a possible change for residents and firefighters should be aware of today. (NWS Bay Area via https://twitter.com/NWSBayArea)
Resources: CAL Fire T73 (USDA FS FEPP), T86 (USDA FS FEPP) out of Hollister Tanker Base.
Photo Credit: Flight Radar 24 Flight Tracker
Evacuations: Mandatory evacuations for all areas west of 3800 Palo Colorado Rd to Hwy1 and south to Bixby Creek were issued by Monterey Fire Officials.
Shelters: Red Cross Shelter at the Carmel Middle School, 4380 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel, CA 93923. The SPCA Monterey County is also onsite with an Animal Support Trailer and personnel to co-shelter.
Emergency Alerts: Receive Monterey County fire info text alerts. Text MCWILDFIRE to 888777.
Road Closures: Hwy 1 from Molera Park Entrance. From Coast Road to Granite Canyon Bridge per Caltrans. No estimated ETA is known.
Mapping: The fire location can be found here on this CAL Fire map.
A brush fire is burning approximately two miles east of SR1, north of Point Sur and the Bixby Bridge; near the Palo Colorado section of Monterey County; near Carmel, California.
The fire initially was dispatched as a Report of a Fire in the 37800 block of Palo Colorado Road, just east of SR1 approximately two miles in Monterey County, California around 1926 hours PT on Friday, January 21, 2022. About 17 CHP units are either en route or assigned to this incident.
It was said to be burning at the edge of the 2016 Soberanes Fire burn scar.
INCIDENT DESIGNATOR
This is named the COLORADO FIRE also known as BIG SUR FIRE, COLORADO IC.
CAUSE
Reports from local residents and media reported this was a structure fire that began burning into the wildland interface and started to brew as a possible firestorm. Conditions are said to be high winds and dry fire fuels.
CURRENT WEATHER REPORTS
2315: Temps 55*F, clear with a 6% precipitation. Winds are 6 mph and there is a 19% RH.
2310: A Red Cross evacuation shelter will be open at 2330 hours at the Carmel Middle School, 4830 Carmel Valley Road. El Refugio de la Cruz Roja Americana estará disponible a partir de las 11:30 pm en la secundaria Carmel, en el 4380 del Camino Carmel Valley
Big Sur FD and Mid Coast FD: Volunteer FFs are on working on the fire ground.
NWS Bay Area
CHP
ESTIMATED SIZE
75-100 acres. 0% containment.
INCIDENT TIMELINE
1926-1934: Fire is burning near Bixby Bridge side, later reported as east of the bridge.
1937: reported as 2-3 acres with heavy wind and no structure threats.
2014: additional CHP resources being paged.
2024: Fire reported as starting in the area of Rocky Creek, Palo Colorado.
2024-2115: 9-1-1 calls coming in about the fire.
2124: Fire reported as getting near SR1, CHP units are requested to close the highway.
2130: Caltrans closes SR1 at the stoplight, north of Weston Ridge. CHP to stop southbound at the light, just north of Weston Ridge. Having a north unit to turn around all southbound traffic.
2132: At Rock Creek, the fire has jumped SR1 and is now burning on the westbound side. Poor visibility.
2134: All traffic being turned around at St Rio Raod.
2137: Law enforcement trying to get people to leave. Fire is now approaching Old Coast Road. CHP works with Carmel PD in Dispatch to start turning traffic around at Rio Road.
2140: IC Rocky Creek is in Palo Colorado.
2201: Parks close the south end. Evacuations were completed from the Fire Station to SR1.
2203: Road closed northbound SR1.
2204: Per FD: fire approximately 150 acres. Mandatory orders were issued on Palo and all other sides on SR1.
2207: Mandatory evacuations were ordered from the fire station westbound to SR1.
2214: Winds blowing from the southeast.
2215: 2nd fire reported at Boney Dune Road and Pine Flat Road between SR1 and Gate C17 in Santa Cruz. No other details on this.
2222: All areas west of 3800 Palo Colorado Road to Hwy 1 and south to Bixby Creek.
2233: All residents on the west side of the fire station have been evacuated.
2232: One wonders how firefighters will fight this fire as there is no level ground, no roads, aircraft not flying during the night.
2224: Fire started in Palo Colorado Canyon. GOES 17 satellite imagery showing the fire on the radar. Dry northeasterly winds are pushing the fire in a southwest direction towards Hwy 1. (weather news)
2103: Fire heading SW toward Rocky Creek and Bixby, which are under evacuation orders.
SAN CLARITA, CALIFORNIA — LA County Firefighters are on the scene of a two-story strip mall fire on Saturday, in the block of 23200 West Lyons Avenue.
Upon arrival by E73 as the first due apparatus, reported the second floor of the mall was heavily involved with fire and the unit went initially going defensive. At 1702, Command advised Dispatch they were in defensive operations but transitioning back over to offensive operations but were still in the same mode
This is the LA LYONS IC as the Command designator.
Command requested a 2nd alarm at 1713 hours PT, bringing additional resources, and were instructed to check in with Medic 1 when they arrived at Staging which was located on Lyons and Valley.
At 1707 PT, Dispatch advised the LA Lyons IC it was 20 minutes on the timer, at which time, the IC stated they was heavy fire in the attic and all hands were working in the defensive operations mode.
The Fire was knocked at 1724 hours and Command advised Dispatch, to retain all 2nd alarm resources as manpower due to extensive overhaul. The Fire Investigator asked Command to hold off on overhaul until the cause could be determined.
A primary search of the building at 1725 hours was conducted but nothing was found.
Cause is still being determined at the time of this post. No preliminary cause had been disclosed and no word if any citizens or firefighters have been injured during this incident.
About the Fire Building
The fire building is a two-story-strip mall that is being used as mixed occupancy as offices and retail space, which was built in 1982 on 1.09 acres. The building is approximately 31,418 square footage and assessed per LA County tax records as $1,205,794.
Firefighters with the Texas A&M Forest Service and other Mutual Aid resources were kept busy on Friday and continuing into Saturday, December 11, 2021, as they were deployed to several very large wildfires under RED FLAG fire conditions producing extreme fire behavior. Many of these fires caused significant travel delays and impacted several communities. Continued fire suppressions efforts are still going strong.
Credit | TAMFS
Arrowhead Fire
The ARROWHEAD FIRE is located about one mile west of Petrolia, heading Southeast towards Henrietta in Clay County. The fire started on 12/10/2021 at approximately 1600 hours. Unified Command with TX A&M FS and local Fire Departments. There have been about 7,500 acres destroyed. Grass and brush are fire fuels and crews have reached 35% containment status. Dispatched via the Northwest Dispatch Zone. Cause: Debris burning.
County Line Fire
The COUNTY LINE FIRE is located in Wilbarger County. It is about 1,000 acres and is 0% contained. This incident was dispatched via the Northwest Dispatch Zone.
Electra Complex Fire
The ELECTRA COMPLEX FIRE is located In the town of Electra off of US Hwy 287 in Wichita County. The two fires started on December 10, 2021, around 1200 hours and would later merge together on the very same day it started. There has been an estimated 2,300 acres of tall grass and mesquite burned and crews have successfully reached an 85% containment status. Fire Managers have reported the weather windy conditions as a possible concern. Incident Cooperators include local FD agencies along with Federal Firefighters from Sheppard AFB and State resources along with crews from the TX A&M Forest Service. TAMFS and Electra VFD are in Unified Command. Fire behavior has been extremely active with high winds. Aircraft has been unable to assist or fly due to heavy smoke and poor visibility.
Lazy J Town Fire
The LAZY J TOWN FIRE has burned about1,000 acres and there is a 0% containment. Limited information.
Twin Creek Fire. West of Lake Meredith in Moore County. Started December 10, 2021, around 1430 hours. Est. 3,000 acres. 60% contained. Panhandle Dispatch Zone. Started on December 10, 2021. TX A&M FS in Unified Command with Dumas FD, TX Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, and local fire departments. Extreme fire behavior has been observed with a high rate of spread.
LAFD Firefighters quickly egressed on the Sylmar Fire at 1652 hours PT in containing it. Forward progression has been stopped dead in its tracks with no structures were damaged nor were there any injuries reported to citizens or firefighters.
Most of the 1st Alarm resources have been released from this incident but some still remain to conduct mop-up operations.
Units listed for this incident are now the following: AO,1 AO2, BC12, BC15, CE84, CM42, E18, E275, E287, E290, E298, E7, E8, E90, E91, EM15, H1, H2, H3, H4, HA1, HA2, HA3, HA4, RA7, RA90, T75, T87, T90 T98 WT77.
Update 1 | 11-25-2021 Thursday | 1635 PT
A wildfire response has just been deployed located in the 16000 block of W. Rockford Street in Sylmar, California at 1635 hours PT.
The fire has burned about two acres of brush at a moderate rate of speed with winds out of the norther at 10-15 mph.
Units assigned to this incident are BC12, BC15, E18, E275, E287, E290, E298, E7, E90, E91, EM15, H0A, H0E, RA7, T75, T87, T90, T98, H4, H3.
Current weather conditions in this area are 66*F degrees, clear, sunny skies with 1% precip and a RH of 6%.
This is the Los Angeles Fire Department Incident #1168.
Hashtags we are using, #CAFireSeason2021 #SylmarFire
SD Fire resources have been successful in stopping the forward progression of today’s fire and holding it at 18 acres. It may not seem like a lot of acres but with the increased fire danger from low RH and high winds, this could have been way worse than in reality.
San Diego Sheriff/CAL FIRE Copter 11 performing a water drop on today’s #MagnoliaFire in #Santee. Forward rate of spread has been stopped at approximately 18 acres. Stay vigilant as Santa Ana winds continue to effect SoCal into the weekend…@SDSheriff 🎥 Ryan Grothe pic.twitter.com/zGC0kaQvlX
SANTEE, CALIFORNIA — A brush fire has ignited near Ramsgate Way and Ramsgate Drive; on Hwy 52 x Riverford Road, in the eleven o’clock hour and has been really ramping up since it had been reported and setting fire watchers Social Media pages ablaze.
Credits | CAL FIRE, SDG&E
Evacuations –> A warning has been issued for the Santee area near Hill Creek/Rams Gate. The San Diego County Sheriff is asking residents and visitors to evacuate through Jeremy Street to N. Magnolia (around the Hill Creek School).
Evacuation Center –> Pathways Church at 9638 Carlton Hills Blvd. (SD Sheriff/alertsd.org)
Resources Include –> Tankers 70, 71, AA310 (from Hemet airport), an Erickson S64 HT (out of SEE airport), 2 Copters and Tanker131 are assigned to this incident along with Fire personnel from Santee FD, CAL FIRE-San Diego, and law enforcement from the San Diego Sheriff’s Office. At 1148 PT, there were two additional engine strike teams requested.
Size Up–> Approximately 10 acres with active fire behavior with a moderate rate of spread. into the river bottom.
SANTEE, CALIFORNIA — A brush fire has ignited near Ramsgate Way and Ramsgate Drive; on Hwy 52 x Riverford Road, in the eleven o’clock hour and has been really ramping up since it had been reported and setting fire watchers Social Media pages ablaze.
Credits | CAL FIRE, SDG&E
Evacuations –> A warning has been issued for the Santee area near Hill Creek/Rams Gate. The San Diego County Sheriff is asking residents and visitors to evacuate through Jeremy Street to N. Magnolia (around the Hill Creek School).
Evacuation Center –> Pathways Church at 9638 Carlton Hills Blvd. (SD Sheriff/alertsd.org)
Resources Include –> Tankers 70, 71, AA310 (from Hemet airport), an Erickson S64 HT (out of SEE airport), 2 Copters and Tanker131 are assigned to this incident along with Fire personnel from Santee FD, CAL FIRE-San Diego, and law enforcement from the San Diego Sheriff’s Office. At 1148 PT, there were two additional engine strike teams requested.
Size Up–> Approximately 10 acres with active fire behavior with a moderate rate of spread. into the river bottom.
Credits | CAL FIRE, SDG&E
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