Dolan Fire spreads near Big Sur as firefighters face windy conditions, steep terrain
The Dolan Fire near Big Sur spread an additional 1,223 acres since Sunday, but firefighters held containment lines at 40% despite windy conditions.
As of Monday, 118,465 acres had burned, destroying 19 structures and damaging four others along the way.
The U.S. Forest Service said they anticipated winds from the southwest to continue to challenge firefighters Monday, specifically near Arroyo Seco.
However, a heavy marine layer alone the coast was expected to help decrease fire behavior and allow firefighters to extinguish hot spots and improve containment lines in the west.
The Forest Service reported that 756 personnel were on the scene Monday.
As of Sunday evening, Cal Fire had joined the unified command of the U.S. Forest Service and Fort Hunter-Liggett, the Forest Service said. The addition of Cal Fire will increase personnel and help fire suppression efforts, officials said.
Firefighters were expected to construct a fire line between Prewitt Ridge and McKern Ridge to prevent the fire from continuing south of McKern Ridge, according to the Forest Service.
Crews working above the marine layer along the ridges were facing steep, rugged terrain, dry fuels and windy conditions, the Forest Service said.
Highway 1 remained closed from Gorda to Sycamore Draw Bridge, according to Caltrans.
Evacuation orders remained in place Monday for Lucia South, Prewitt Ridge, South Coast Ridge, Zone 26, Zone 24 and Zone 28. Warnings were issued in Partington, Big Creek, Gorda, Salmon Creek, Fort Hunter-Liggett, Zone 14 West, Zone 25 and Zone 29.
For an updated information, visit the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services Dolan Fire Evacuation Zones map here.
To receive emergency notifications regarding evacuations and critical events in Monterey County, sign up for A!ert Monterey County.
Air quality in SLO County remains unhealty
The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District and county Public Health Department sent out an air quality alert warning of poor air quality through Monday.
“Until many of the large fires burning are put out, SLO County can expect skies to be hazy and fine particulate (PM 2.5) concentrations and ozone to be higher than normal,” the county said in a news release. “We may also see high levels of larger particulates (ash) to be present as well.”
According to the APCD, Morro Bay was experiencing very unhealthy air on Monday morning, while Nipomo and San Luis Obispo had unhealthy air and the air quality in Atascadero and Paso Robles was unhealthy for sensitive groups.
PG&E meteorologist John Lindsey tweeted that air quality might improve later Monday afternoon in coastal regions.
The air district urged residents in areas with smoke and falling ash to take the following precautions:
- Head indoors and remain indoors, if possible.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
- Close all windows and doors that lead outside to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.
This story was originally published September 14, 2020 at 11:00 AM with the headline "Dolan Fire spreads near Big Sur as firefighters face windy conditions, steep terrain."
