Overview
- The fire has burned roughly 5,200 acres and is about 20–21% contained according to the latest incident reports.
- Crews are exploiting favorable weather windows to run planned burns and backfires and to use drones that drop ignition 'balls' to bring the fire down to Highway 1 near Partington Ridge.
- More than 2,000 personnel and heavy resources including engines, dozers, helicopters and water tenders are assigned to protect roughly 500 structures that remain threatened; no structural losses or injuries have been reported.
- The Monterey County Sheriff downgraded three evacuation orders to warnings Tuesday while other zones remain under orders or warnings and Highway 1 is closed through the fire area with an evacuation shelter open at Carmel Middle School.
- Steep, rugged terrain and a shifting marine layer have limited ground access and air operations, investigators are still probing the cause and the U.S. Forest Service is asking the public for photos or video as crews work to clear debris and reopen Highway 1.