Wildfire Burning Near Tassajara Zen Center

3:38pm July 18

The latest as reported on InciWeb, with 331 personnel now battling the wildfire: 

"The Tassajara Fire…remains at 169 acres with no containment…The fire is in remote and very steep terrain, making ground access very difficult. Yesterday, hand crews were unable to gain access, however, helicopters and air tankers were used to slow the fire's advances. Last night the increase in relative humidity over the fire helped to hold the fire from growing significantly.

"Today, hand crews will be flown in and begin direct attack on the fire. Challenging the crews besides the rough and steep terrain is radio coverage. Radio coverage in the fire area is poor, especially in the steep canyons. Establishing good communications is key to a SAFE operation. The weather is also changing as a warming trend over the area will bring warmer and drier conditions through Friday."

A number of trails in the fire area are not recommended for use right now; see InciWeb for the list.

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10:30am July 18

The earlier USFS report of Boy Scouts being evacuated from Pico Blanco is false, according to Ron Shoenmehl, director of support service at the Boy Scouts' Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council.

"The camp director is in constant contact with fire authorities and talked with the Mid Coast Penninsula Fire Brigade captain at 5:44pm," he writes in an online comment. "Camp was advised that the fire is nowhere near camp and camp is not under any threat. Camp was advised that the initial reports from the fire information center mistook Camp Pico Blanco for another similar place name."

InciWeb is now reporting the fire to be 169 acres and spreading at a "low to moderate" rate in the scar of the 2008 Basin Fire. "Terrain and access are presenting a control issue," it states.

Tassajara Zen Center spokesman Jesse Cutler reports that as of 6pm last night, four air tankers, five helicopters and over 150 fire personnel were battling the blaze with flame retardant and water.

"There are also plenty of fire personnel at Tassajara, although Tassajara is on voluntary evacuation alert. Guests and students who felt inclined have left. Greg Fain, Head of Practice, says that he feels 'very safe' and not too concerned," Cutler writes by email.

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6:09pm July 17

The incident information system InciWeb.org has just posted the following  about the Tassajara Fire:

"The Tassajara Fire started at approximately 1pm on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. The fire is located one mile from Tassajara Springs on the Monterey Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest. The fire is at 150 acres and is burning at a slow to moderate rate of spread. The fire is burning in the 2008 West Basin Fire scar. Terrain and access are presenting a control issue."

Andrew Madsen, public information officer for Los Padres National Forest, says that despite early reports of up to 500 acres burning, his helicopter team puts the wildfire at more like 200-300 acres. With winds at a manageable 11-16 miles per hour, "We’re cautiously optimistic that we’ll be able to pick this up," he says.

“Once the fire moves away from Tassajara Creek we’ll be able to use our retardant-dropping aircraft.”

Madsen says he has not heard that the Zen Center has been evacuated, but USFS patrol and County Sheriff's officers earlier this afternoon evacuated about 100 people recreating by Tassajara Hot Springs, along with a small group of Boy Scouts by Piedra Blanca.

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4:43pm July 17

A wildfire is burning north of the Tassajara Zen Center this afternoon, but details remain smoky at present.

According to the USFS Fire-California Twitter feed, at 3:52pm the Tassajara Fire was estimated at 500 acres near Tassajara Hot Springs in the Los Padres National Forests' Ventana Wilderness, with 0 percent contained. Hotshot crews were hiking in at 4:19pm.

Local blogs Xasauan Today and Big Sur Kate are providing updates as well.

"There are other, unconfirmed, reports that the fire has crossed Tassajara Creek and that the Zen Center is being, or has been, evacuated," Monterey County Planner Keith Vandevere writes on the Xasauan blog at 5:20pm.

Between 3:15-4pm, Big Sur Kate blogger Kate Novoa reported smoke visible behind Cone Peak and, according to one commentator, in Salinas Valley. She reports fire trucks heading out from Big Sur.

"Tassajara is in Big Sur's backyard," she notes.

The Basin Complex Fire of 2008 tore through 162,818 acres of Big Sur, Carmel Valley and the Los Padres National Forest that links them.