Solano County Firefighters Heading To Monterey Blaze

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA - Firefighters from Solano County left for Monterey County Sunday night, part of a massive California mobilization to fight the so-called Soberanes Fire that started Friday and has burned 14,897 acres in Monterey County as of 7:30 a.m. Monday.

A second Solano County Strike Team departed for the #SoberanesFire last night after dark.

The fire is currently threatening about 1,650 structures, Cal Fire officials said.

Containment of the fire, which is burning an area south of Carmel-By-the-Sea and north of Big Sur, remains at five percent.

Cal Fire officials in Monterey County have expanded mandatory evacuation orders for residents living near the massive fire.

As of 9 p.m. Sunday, mandatory evacuation orders were in effect for the Rocky Creek area, Weston Ridge Road (also known as Garrapata Ridge Road), Palo Colorado Road, Garrapatos Road and Old Coast Road from U.S. Highway 1 south to Bixby Creek Road.

Six homes and two sheds have been destroyed. No one has been injured.

The Fire started around 8:50 a.m. near Garrapata State Park and has grown quickly. By Saturday evening, the fire was reported to have burned 6,500 acres and by this evening had doubled in acreage.

Evacuations are advised for residents in the communities of Carmel Highlands and San Rancho Clemente, but are not mandatory. The advisory is also in effect for Rancho San Carlos Road, White Rock and Old Coast Road from Bixby Creek Road to Little Sur River.

An evacuation center has been opened at Carmel Middle School at 4380 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel-By-The-Sea.

Firefighters with Cal Fire and various other fire departments throughout the area are attempting to extinguish the fire from both the air and on the ground. Because the fire is located in a remote area, access is challenging, according to Cal Fire officials.

-Bay City News; image via Cal Fire, embeds via Vallejo fire, Cal Fire