Firefighters battling the Gloria Fire, near Pinnacles National
Monument outside Soledad, had it more than 60 percent contained by
late Saturday, fire officials said.
By Dennis Taylor, McClatchy News Service
Firefighters battling the Gloria Fire, near Pinnacles National Monument outside Soledad, had it more than 60 percent contained by late Saturday, fire officials said.
As of 7 p.m., the fire had burned 6,437 acres. A travel trailer and an outbuilding were destroyed, and a tractor was damaged, in the previous 24 hours, Cal Fire spokeswoman Mary Welna said Saturday. One residence had been destroyed earlier.
Firefighters made good progress building containment lines overnight Friday, but wind gusts Saturday caused fire activity to pick up slightly.
Welna said crews reported they were relatively pleased with the conditions in the area.
“The conditions yesterday weren’t very windy, so our crews felt like they really got a jump on the fire last night,” Welna said. “The fires are still moving in a southeast direction right now, but it’s looking much better for us than it did yesterday.”
Conditions were so much better that evacuation orders were lifted for the area of Highway 146, and Bryant Canyon and Stonewall Canyon roads at 4 p.m. Saturday. Cal Fire warned residents returning to their homes to be aware of fire personnel and equipment working in the area.
Stonewall Canyon Road is without power because of burned power poles and will remain so through Sunday night. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. crews are working to replace the burned poles, and drivers should use caution because utility crews will be working on or near the roadway.
A total of 32 fire crews and 1,083 personnel were fighting the fire with 110 engines, five helicopters, 26 bulldozers, eight water tenders and three air tankers. The biggest plane on the scene was a DC-10 from McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, which made at least six dumps of its 12,000-gallon fire-retardant payload by midafternoon.
The total estimated cost of the operation through Saturday was $1.5 million.
Cooperating agencies included Cal Fire, the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, multiple Monterey County fire departments, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, the American Red Cross, CalEMA and the city of Soledad.
Dave Wright of the American Red Cross said the organization sheltered six people at Soledad High Thursday, but none Friday. He said they weren’t anticipating any overnighters for Saturday, but the shelter would remain open.
Wright said they had been working in conjunction with the SPCA of Monterey County to shelter a few animals that were displaced by the fire.
Homeowner David Grow estimated Saturday that about 200 acres of his property had been destroyed by the fire, but his house was still standing. He said firefighters in his area were mostly mopping up.
“It’s probably about a mile away from us right now, but the wind’s kicking up a little bit and it could turn back in our direction,” said Grow, who lives there with his wife, Lori, and two sons, John, 14, and Charles, 16. “We saw it coming up the ridge toward us yesterday and there wasn’t a lot of time for conversation at that point.”
The west side of Pinnacles National Monument and all back-country trails were closed to park staff and visitors. The park’s east-side picnic areas, campground and bench trail remained open, but the use of gas stoves is prohibited in designated areas.
