Beastly Soberanes Fire Grows Even Larger: Day 29

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA – The raging Soberanes Fire in Monterey County today grew to 81,396 acres, up from the estimated 79,000 scorched acres reported Thursday, but containment is maintained at 60 percent, according to Cal Fire.

"Crews are engaged in fire suppression repair from Andrew Molera State Park north to Carmel Highlands, and South of the Carmel Valley. Further to the south, in advance of the fire, crews are constructing and improving firelines for potential firing operations." Cal Fire said. "The daily increase in acres burned is due to tactical firing operations and forward progress of the fire within the wilderness, mostly in the Mt. Uncle Sam area and Logwood Creek."

As of today, 57 homes and 11 outbuildings are destroyed, according to the agency. More than 400 structures are threatened. Firefighters at the scene today total 2,690 for the blaze which killed a private contractor operating a bulldozer and injured three other workers, according to Cal Fire.

Today marks the 29th day of the blaze, started July 22 by an illegal campfire. Full containment is estimated by the end of the month.

Also a note from the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross is very grateful for the offers of assistance, but at this time we are not able to accept in-kind donations such as food and clothing. If people have questions about in-kind donations related to the Soberanes Fire, they should contact MontereyCo.Recovers.org, which is a local web site that matches people who have supplies and other in-kind donations with people who have those same needs.

To list an item that could be donated or to list a need, individuals are asked to submit that information on the organization's web site: montereyco.recovers.org/.

The organization's phone number is 831-649-3050.

People can help those affected by disasters by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. These donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from disasters big and small. To donate, people can visit redcross.org/donate/, call 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Previous Soberanes Fire coverage:

• Soberanes Fire Update: Bigger Still With 79K Acres Consumed On Day 28
• Soberanes Fire Latest: Day 27 With Scorched Terrain Expanding Overnight By Roughly 700 Acres
• Soberanes Fire Grows To More Than 76K Acres; Hwy 1 Reopens -- For Now
• Soberanes Fire: Hwy 1 Closure Extended
• Hwy 1 Stretch To Close Sunday Due To Soberanes Fire
• Soberanes Fire Day 21: Possible Closure Of Hwy 1 Looms [UPDATE]
• Soberanes Fire Day 20: Containment Holding Steady At 50%
• Soberanes Fire Day 19: Burned Acreage Grows Overnight; Containment Advances To 50% [UPDATE]
• Nestless and Rescued: Firefighter Uses Coffee Cup To Save Baby Bird From Smoky Soberanes Fire
• Clint Eastwood Visits Firefighters Battling Soberanes Fire
• Two Injured in Massive Soberanes Fire

--Image from earlier this week via Redding Firefighters ‏@IAFFlocal_1934 on Twitter