Clint Eastwood Visits Firefighters Battling Soberanes Fire

Clint Eastwood, the actor, producer and director who went by the title Mr. Mayor in the town of Carmel from 1986 to 1988, showed his appreciation this week to firefighters who are part of a task force protecting Carmel and its outlying neighborhoods.

Eastwood posed for a photo with firefighters from Heartland Fire & Rescue, which serves the San Diego County cities of El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove.

They posted the photo on Facebook, saying, "Clint Eastwood stopped by to wish the crews on the #soberanesfire good luck!...Heartland Fire & Rescue has sent one Type 3 strike team and one OES Type 1 strike team to assist."

The Soberanes Fire has burned 51,000 acres in two weeks and is 27 percent contained. It's leveled 57 homes and 11 outbuildings. A bulldozer driver cutting a fire line was killed when his vehicle overturned. Many residents remain evacuated from their homes, while others are on standby. Calfire predicts that it will take to the end of August to get the fire completely out.

California's Mutual Aid Plan is set up through the state Office of Emergency Services. It designates that firefighter strike teams, pulled from departments throughout the state, be called up in weeklong shifts to fight major wildfires.

Previous Soberanes Fire Coverage:

• 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

Image by Heartland Fire & Rescue via Facebook