Full Rey Fire Containment Predicted by Next Wednesday
Crews Batted Back the Blaze Where it Jumped Mono Creek
Fire officials announced Friday they hope to have the Rey Fire — now 33,006 acres and 39 percent contained — fully contained by next Wednesday, August 31. It began Thursday, August 18, near the White Rock day use area in the Los Padres National Forest.
Despite jumping the Mono Creek containment line yesterday and heading east toward Hildreth Peak, the wildland blaze was batted back by fire crews and has not crossed the Hildreth line, Independent writer Ray Ford reports. The point where the fire did cross Mono Creek is still active, but Ford said firefighters hope to have it handled by this evening.
“If they are able to contain that corner, the crews should be able to focus completely on the spot further up and across from Ogilvy Ranch, and hopefully get that side of the fire line under control in the next few days,” he continued. “All considering, the cooling weather and higher humidity has been very helpful.”
Thursday night, the fire in that area was active until around 3 a.m. when the marine layer settled in, Forest Service officials said. Crews made good progress improving access along Camuesa Road and the Pendola Jeep Trail, they said, and will continue to construct lines directly on the fire’s perimeter along the eastern flank while improving the P-Bar and Pendola contingency lines.
Despite cooler temperatures Friday, the weekend is expected to heat up. West winds are predicted to start gusting up to 18 mph after the marine layer clears.
Effective as of 6 p.m. Thursday, people who live or work off of Paradise Road are allowed to return to the area. The road remains closed to the public, campers, and anyone not affiliated with firefighting efforts. All additional road closures, including East Camino Cielo and Painted Cave Road, are still in effect. Highway 154 is open to traffic.
