California condor sanctuary near Big Sur ‘completely destroyed’ as Dolan Fire spreads
The Dolan Fire destroyed a wildlife sanctuary for endangered California condors on the Big Sur Coast, leaving managers to wonder and worry about the fate of several missing birds.
As of Wednesday morning, the fire had scorched 21,844 acres and was 15% contained, spreading more than 1,400 acres further overnight, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The Forest Service has not released how many structures had been damaged or destroyed by the fire.
However, the Ventana Wildlife Society confirmed Wednesday via Twitter that the fire “completely destroyed” its California condor sanctuary, burning its release and research facilities.
The society announced the damage in an Aug. 21 post on its Facebook page.
“The Dolan Fire in Big Sur, California, burned through the Condor Sanctuary jeopardizing the Ventana Wildlife Society’s recovery effort. Two live cameras, operated by Explore.org, recorded the devastation,” the post said. “The nest cam, where baby condor ‘Iniko’ is being raised by wild parents Redwood Queen and Kingpin, was lost on the evening of August 20, 2020, and the Sanctuary Cam, with an overview of the release area, was burned over at around 3:45 a.m. on the 21st.
“Our release pen was engulfed in flames just before the feed cut out. As condors and their chicks have survived wildfire in the past, there is still hope for Iniko and the others. Once it is clear, we will rebuild as nothing will get in our way of restoring this magnificent species back to nature!”
In the nest video, Iniko is seen alone, flapping its wings as the camera records the sound of crackling flames outside.
The nonprofit organization said firefighters confirmed the loss of its facilities Monday. The society said that it may need to replace its condor pen, field biologist cabin, water system and roads to the sanctuary.
“Watching those videos was indeed horrific, for I have personally devoted the last 23 years to recovering condors to the wild,” executive director Kelly Sorenson wrote in a comment on the society’s Facebook post. “As we have said, we are hopeful, but it would not be surprising if we lost some condors to this fire, and it nearly crushes my spirit to accept that possible reality.“
While most of the condors have been accounted for, at least four of the giant birds were missing, the society said. California condors are protected as endangered under federal and state law.
“We will be using all available resources and tools at our disposal to determine the health of every condor, but unfortunately, we are greatly limited in what can be done right now,” the Facebook post read.
Although firefighters are working to protect condor nests, the fire has been difficult to manage, the post said.
Firefighters making progress on Dolan Fire
The Forest Service said progress on the fire has been slow due to rough terrain and a lack of available crews. More than 15,000 firefighters battle upwards of two dozen major fires and lightning complexes throughout the state, according to Cal Fire.
The fire is located about 10 miles south of Big Sur, between Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Limekiln State Park.
Overnight, firefighters provided structure protection while low-intensity backing fires burned in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The Dolan Fire stopped short of McWay Ridge, the Forest Service said in an update.
Other areas that continued to be threatened by the fire include the communities of Hermitage, Partington Ridge, Lucia and nearby businesses, the Forest Service said.
Evacuation orders were in effect Wednesday for Partington, Big Creek and Lucia zones.
Highway 1 remained closed Wednesday near mile marker 38 at Troy Canyon in the north and at Hermitage south of the fire, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The Dolan Fire was believed to have been intentionally set the night of Aug. 18.
Ivan Geronimo Gomez, a 30-year-old Fresno man, was arrested a day later on suspicion of starting the fire, according to a Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post.
He is being held at the Montery County Jail in lieu of a $2,000,000 bail for a felony arson charge, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s booking log.
Geronimo Gomes was charges with three felony counts — arson of forest land, throwing an object at a vehicle or vehicle occupant with intent to do great bodily injury, and cultivating more than six living cannabis plants. He was also charges with two misdemeanors, including battery and exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm.
River Fire and Carmel Fire updates
Although containment remained unchanged for the Dolan Fire, firefighters were able to increase containment around the Carmel Fire and the River Fire near Salinas.
The River Fire had burned 49,424 acres as of Wednesday morning. Containment had increased from 43% Tuesday evening to 48% by Wednesday morning, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire reported that onshore winds from the northwest Tuesday slowly pushed the fire to the south, yet it remained within containment lines.
As of Wednesday, 30 structures have been destroyed — 13 of which were homes, according to the agency. An additional 12 structures were damaged, and 181 remained threatened.
The increased containment allowed for some evacuation orders and warnings to be lifted Tuesday. As containment increases, fewer structures were considered threatened as well.
The Carmel Fire in Carmel Valley was 45% contained as of Wednesday morning, up from the 40% containment reported Tuesday evening, according to Cal Fire.
Improved weather conditions helped firefighters bolster containment lines, Cal Fire said.
As of Wednesday, 6,695 acres in the Carmel Valley had burned as a result of the fire.
Cal Fire reported that 73 structures, including 50 homes, had been destroyed by the Carmel Fire as of Wednesday. Seven other structures were damaged, and 440 remained threatened.
Firefighters were on the scene Wednesday mopping up areas and patrolling the first perimeter of the fire, according to Cal Fire. Smoldering within the interior containment lines was to be expected, Cal Fire said.
On Wednesday, some evacuation orders and warnings were lifted, however many remained in place.
Where to get help if you’ve been affected by the fires
Commodity distribution points for the fires were set at the intersection of Tasajarra Road and Carmel Valley Road and the Cheveron Gas Station, located at 38 West Carmel Valley, according to Cal Fire. They will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Evacuation centers are located at King City Branch Library at 404 Broadway St. in King City and the Monterey Conference Center at 1 Protola Plaza in Monterey.
Along with the centers, 24-hour evacuation centers are located at Carmel Middle School at 4380 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel and Salinas Valley Fairgrounds at 625 Division St. in King City, according to Cal Fire. The shelters have the capacity to provide meals and sleeping accommodations for around 20 people.
How to help fire victims
Although some evacuation orders have been lifted, many remain in place in Monterey County.
The Community Foundation for Monterey County created a Monterey County Fire Relief Fund to help those affected by the Dolan, River and Salinas fires. Donations can be made online, via phone at 831-375-9712 or by mail at Community Foundation for Monterey County, 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940. (Make checks payable to the foundation and note “Monterey County Fire Relief,” “Carmel Valley Relief” or “Big Sur Relief” in the memo line.)
Supplies can also be donated directly at Seaside High School, 2200 Noche Buena St. in Seaside, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Ventana Wildlife Society is also collecting monetary donations to rebuild the condor release and research facilities that were destroyed by the Dolan Fire. The nonprofit’s goal is to raise $500,000 to rebuild the sanctuary for the endangered birds, according to the society’s website.
As of Wednesday, more than $22,000 had been raised, the society said.
Additional volunteer and donation information can be found at MontereyCo.Recovers.org.
This story was originally published August 26, 2020 at 10:33 AM with the headline "California condor sanctuary near Big Sur ‘completely destroyed’ as Dolan Fire spreads."
