[californiadisasters] Pfeiffer Fire Live Blog Update (12/19/13-7PM)

A fire broke out shortly after midnight Monday between Pfeiffer Ridge and Sycamore Canyon west of Highway 1 in Big Sur.

LATEST UPDATES (7 p.m.):

• Forest Service PIO says cause and location of the origin of the fire is still not known. Some fires, it takes weeks or months, says Lynn Olson.
• The fire is 88 percent contained, the Forest Service said Thursday evening, with 937 acres burned. Officials expect to have the fire fully contained by Friday evening.
• The U.S. Forest Service says expected strong winds that accompanied the cold front moved over the fire around 10 p.m. The stronger winds created a risk to firefighters from falling trees so crews were pulled off the lines to safety points, and the fire was in a monitoring status for the remainder of the shift. Scattered rain occurred over the fire area throughout the night.
• The Forest Service says fire crews are entering the burned Pfieffer Ridge area of Big Sur today to verify the addresses of destroyed structures and assess damage to infrastructure before property owners are allowed to return.
• Firefighters have saved 24 threatened structures since the fire broke out Sunday. At least 22 structures have been destroyed, including 14 homes, on Pfeiffer Ridge Road.
•  The U.S. Forest Service says assigned to the fire are 31 crews, 72 engines, 2 dozers, four water tenders and four helicopters, for a total of 1,007 personnel.
• The forest service has spent roughly $1 million on the fire so far, mostly on air support, and 879 firefighters have assisted since it started, Forest Service spokeswoman Kathleen Phelps said Wednesday. There have been at least three firefighters hurt, although all were considered minor injuries. 
• The following road closures are still in place: Clear Ridge Road Pfeiffer Ridge Road and River Inn to Pfeiffer Ridge Road. Highway 1 is open although there may be intermittent traffic control for the safety of firefighters working in the area and for public safety.
• The evacuations of Pfeiffer Ridge Road remain in effect and include the following: Sycamore Canyon Road on the south to Clear Ridge on the north Highway 1 on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west. The evacuation watch for the area west of Highway 1 between Fernwood Resort and River Inn remains in effect.
• Andrew Molera State Park also is closed.

Source: http://www.montereyherald.com/news/ci_24733201/live-blog-fire-los-padres-national-forest-burns

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