The Flat fire has burned just over 300 acres in Poso Flat and is now 75 percent contained.
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Tuesday’s high temperature in Fresno is forecast to be 96 degrees, down from the 104-degree reading on Monday.
An untended campfire, burning in the Ventana Wilderness Area of the Los Padres National Forest – a region called “steep, rugged, and inaccessible” by officials – on July 22, started the fire.
The Soberanes Fire has burned more than 117,000 acres since it started almost two months ago by an illegal campfire, and is 67 percent contained as of yesterday afternoon.
The size of the fire area is 33,606 acres.
Elayn Briggs, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service, said it’s too early to tell if the warning will lead to more evacuations. The total as of now is $206.7 million, which does not include damages to structures or homes – because the fire has been burning in rough, largely uninhabited terrain along ridges east of Big Sur in and in the Carmel Valley, the number of homes destroyed has remained the same for over a month, at 57.
While a low pressure system approaching should reduce smoke impacts by Thursday, the public should exercise caution until the fires are extinguished.
Containment was at 71 percent Tuesday, and U.S. Forest Service officials’ anticipated date for 100 percent containment remains set for September 30.
Evacuation warnings have also been announced for the areas north of Carmel Valley Road, from Hastings Preserve east to Cahoon Ranch and from Cahoon Ranch east to Tash Ranch at mile marker 33.6.
The new evacuation order is on the east side of Tassajaro Road from Chews Ridge to Bruce Ranch and from Bruce Ranch east along Anastasia Canyon to Carmel Valley Road and from Carmel Valley Road south from Anastasia Canyon to Tash Ranch.
“We feel very strongly that we have a good handle on it”, said Joe Amador, a spokesman with the incident command team, Tuesday morning.
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Tommy Wright can be reached at 831-726-4375.
