Basin Fire

The Basin Fire is now one of the larger fires in the Ventana Wilderness of Monterey County. Still burning, at 121,800 ac., and $46.6M, it has exceeded the area of the 1999 Kirk Complex fire (85,000 ac.) will probably approach the size of the 1977 Marble Cone Fire (178,00 ac.). When combined with the 2008 Indians Fire (81,400 ac.) the overall complex is huge. Click here for larger view of map. 

Largely controlled on the western flank near Big Sur, it burned from Andrew Molera Park to the Big Creek Reserve (Dolan Ridge). This western boundary (Big Sur) has been contained and now the fire is burning along the north boundary.

A bulldozer line has been established along the north edge of the fire and should contain the fire. This line is close to the boundary of Hastings. Click here for a larger view of the map. 

Firing is being done (7/15/08) from the line to form a burned area into which the fire will slowly burn. Interior areas of the burn will smoke for months to come. As the fire approached the line along Chew's Ridge past the MIRA Observatory, near White Oaks Camp, some fire moved downslope past the bulldozer line into Anastasia Canyon. New bulldozer lines were put in place. These bulldozer lines can be as wide as a freeway, and considerable skill is needed by the equipment operators. Planning and implementation of remediation of these lines is underway. A large helicopter base has been established at the corner of Tassajara and Carmel Valley Road. Various strike teams of about 4 engines are roaming the area, ready to respond to any spot fires. Heavy slurry bombers are working from nearby airports to support fire fighters on the ground.

     Hastings has contributed to a blog that is updated several times a day: Life in the Fire Line. Eric Walters contributed very useful photos. Check it out. Also, our live hilltop remote-operated web camera has a pre-set option now aimed at the fire.