Big Sur Businesses, Homes Threatened By Fire

BIG SUR, Calif. -- Fire fears are increasing in Big Sur as the Basin Complex Fire moves closer to homes and businesses.

Monterey County Office of Emergency Services officials said residents and business owners along the both sides of Highway 1 from Nepenthe to Andrew Molera State Park were under mandatory evacuation orders as the Basin Complex Fire moved further north overnight.

The scenic coastal community of Big Sur was a virtual ghost town, with all of its roughly 850 residents evacuated because of the massive wildfire.

Emergency officials said new mandatory evacuation notices were issued Wednesday morning for an additional 16-mile stretch along Highway 1, bringing the total length of the evacuated area to about 31 miles of the coast.

Sixteen homes and nearly 56,000 acres of the Los Padres National Forest have burned since the inferno near Big Sur was started by lightning on June 21st. It remains only about 3 percent contained. Officials told evacuees at a public meeting Wednesday evening that they don't expect full containment until the end of the month.

Heavy timber and rugged terrain continued to make for tough going for firefighters battling a wildfire along the Big Sur coast.

The latest evacuations have hit the heart of the tourist locations along the Big Sur coastline. Dozens of lodges, restaurants and resorts are located within the new areas of evacuation.

Early Wednesday, voluntary evacuations had been ordered for the western side of Highway 1, a sliver of land between the highway and the coastline known for its amazing ocean vistas. Several hours later, those evacuations were changed to mandatory.

A Red Cross evacuation shelter was set up at the Carmel Middle School. An evacuation center at the Pacific Valley School was closed early Wednesday morning.

"The fire is just a big raging animal right now," said Darby Marshall, spokesman for the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services.

As flames raged in the hills above and ash fell from orange skies, evacuees in packed cars streamed north along the highway, the only major road out of Big Sur. Sheriff's deputies told residents they needed to leave the area by late afternoon.

Janna Fournier, a Big Sur resident for eight years, was heading back to her house to retrieve artwork and rescue her pet tarantula.

"I feel sad for the wilderness and the people who lost their homes," Fournier said. "We chose to live in a wilderness among all this beauty, so I know there's that chance you always take."

Monterey County sheriff's deputies were out in the Big Sur community Wednesday morning telling residents and business owners that they had to leave.

Firefighters said the blaze jumped a fire line and began burning in Big Sur toward the village.

"As you can see, fire trucks are everywhere you look," said Big Sur business owner Janet Lesniak. "They are doing an amazing job. I feel very confident that we are going to be just fine."

Hundreds of people were forced to flee when ordinarily thousands of visits should be pouring into the area for the 4th of July weekend.

"We're probably going to say some goodbyes and have arrangements for tonight," said Big Sur resident Dave Dildine. "Who knows where we'll be tomorrow, but we are not going to be in Big Sur. I look forward to coming back, we all do. I hope there is something to come back to."

Schwarzenegger, FEMA Chief Visit Big Sur
Helicopters hauling large containers of water droned loudly overhead as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, David Paulison, visited Big Sur on Wednesday.

"This is a very dangerous fire right now because of the wind and because of how dry things are and how early in the year it is," Paulison said in an interview. "If people evacuate like they're told to, we shouldn't lose any lives. ... My only concern is that people don't take it seriously enough."

Schwarzengger signed an executive order Wednesday that will:

Cut red tape to speed cleanup and debris removal and to repair environmental damage from the fires

Waive replacement fees for birth certificates, drivers' licenses and other critical documents

Requests that the Franchise Tax Board and the Board of Equalization assist fire victims with filing tax extensions and provide relief from late penalties and assessments.

Highway 1 will be closed to all vehicles except emergency personnel starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

U.S. Forest Service officials closed all federal land within the Monterey Ranger District to public access effective at midnight on Wednesday.

"This temporary closure affects several popular Forest Service campgrounds and day use areas along the Big Sur Coast," said U.S. Forest supervisor Peggy Hernandez. "I know this is a terrible inconvenience for those who have already made their holiday plans; however the closure is necessary for public and firefighter safety and to reduce the chance of new fires that would draw firefighting resources from the Basin and Indians Fires."

Fire officials issued an evacuation advisory notice Sunday morning for Palo Colorado Canyon residents from Highway 1 to the Pico Blanco Boy Scout Camp.

Campers for the Cub Scout session planned for July 6 were asked to go to the Boulder Creek Scout Reservation as an alternate location.

Boy Scouts officials said they were unable to confirm whether the camp would be open for the Boy Scout Sessions on July 13.

More information about the closure of the Pico Blanco Boy Scout Camp can be found on their Web site.

Homeowners that need help evacuating pets or livestock are asked to contact the SPCA at 831-373-2631.

The SPCA for Monterey County has a listing of pet-friendly hotels in the area for displaced residents on their Web site.

Wildlife rescue workers said a 2-month-old condor chick was found dead in an area of the forest that had already burned. Two other chicks are still in areas too dangerous for them to be rescued.

Experts at the Ventana Wildlife Society said they are hopeful the chicks will be safe in their nests.

The fire has also closed the Big Sur Post Office. U.S. Postal Service officials said residents can pick up their mail at the Monterey Post Office on Hartnell Street. A clerk has been assigned for the sole purpose of assisting Big Sur residents.