Soberanes Fire Grows To More Than 76K Acres; Hwy 1 Reopens -- For Now

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA – Lanes on a portion of state Highway 1 in Monterey County have reopened this morning after hazardous trees were discovered in the Soberanes Fire area, Cal Fire officials said.

The closure began around 3 a.m. Monday on Highway 1 from Ripplewood Café at 47047 Highway 1 to North Coast Ridge Road.

Lanes were initially expected to reopen at 5 p.m., however Cal Fire officials said due to the weakened trees threatening power lines, telephone cables and the Pacific Coast Highway, the closure remained in
effect until early today.

The status of the road being open may change depending on the threat to firefighters and public safety workers, according to Cal Fire officials.

Personnel are also working to restring the downed power and telephone lines, according to Cal Fire.

The Soberanes Fire has burned through 76,016 acres and was 60 percent contained as of this morning, with full containment estimated by the end of the month, Cal Fire officials said.

• Also see: Good News: Santa Clara Co.'s Oak Fire At 100% Containment

There are 3,784 firefighters working to extinguish the fire, which has killed a private contractor operating a bulldozer and injured three other workers, according to Cal Fire.

The large wildfire has destroyed 57 homes and 11 outbuildings. It has also damaged three structures and two outbuildings, according to Cal Fire.

The fire is also threatening 410 structures in areas west of Highway 1 where Coast Road meets Andrew Molera State Park to Grave Canyon in addition to Tassajara Road from Carmel Valley Road to Tassajara Hot Springs
Zen Center, Cal Fire officials said.

The fire started on July 22 by an abandoned, illegal campfire at Soberanes Creek at Garrapata State Park. Anyone who was in the area on that day and saw something is asked to call the Cal Fire tip line at (800)
468-4408.

Previous coverage:

• 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
• Dry Weather Causes Soberanes Fire to Spread
• UPDATED: Soberanes Fire Grows to 43,400 Acres, 18% Contained
• PG&E Crews to Begin Rebuilding Infrastructure Damaged by Soberanes Fire
• UPDATE: Soberanes Fire Grows to 40,000 Acres, 18% Contained
• Soberanes Fire Latest: Bulldozer Operator Identified, 31,386 Acres Burned
• Soberanes Fire Latest: Identity Of Bulldozer Operator Who Died Is Released, Community Meeting Set
• Soberanes Fire Latest: Fatality Reported, New Evacuation Orders
• Soberanes Fire Latest: Monterey County Fire Has Burned 19,311 Acres, Remains 10 Percent Contained
• Soberanes Fire: Monterey County Blaze Grows, State Parks Shut Down
• Monterey County Fire Has Burned 6,500 Acres; Only 5 Percent Contained

--Bay City News/Image via USFS Fire-California ‏@R5_Fire_News