Nine Firefighters injured at the Chalk Fire

Nine firefighters sustained minor injuries in three unrelated vehicular accidents Friday and Saturday as personnel continued to battle the Chalk Fire in Los Padres National Forest, about 22 miles southwest of King City. The most serious injury was a possible broken nose. All of the injured were evaluated at a local hospital and released.

The fire, which started Sept. 27, was 30 percent contained, but was burning on more than 12,168 acres. CalFire and the National Forest Service expect to have the blaze contained by Oct. 17.

Overnight rain helped Saturday’s effort, and properties at Dempsey Flat, Biere, Nacaruby and Alms had been removed from the list of threatened areas. A total of 19 residences and 30 outbuildings were still threatened. No structures had been destroyed.

A total of 1,334 firefighters were on the scene Saturday in 30 crews. Equipment included 73 engines, eight air tankers, nine dozers and 12 helicopters.

CalFire reported the fire’s west flank had reached Highway 1 near Limekiln and Hare Canyon. Crews established containment lines Saturday south of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road to the junction of South Coast Ridge Road and McKern Road.

As conditions allow, crews will hold the containment line and begin structure-protection preparation at Merle Ranch. Crews will build a direct line north from Highway 1 toward Cone Peak, and will improve lines on the McKern Trail and Slick Rock.

On the northwest flank in the Ventana Wilderness, challenges include steep terrain and few opportunities to construct containment lines at the fire’s edge.

The fire evacuation warning for residents in the area west of Chalk Peak and South Coast Ridge Road was downgraded Saturday to an evacuation watch.

West Coast 911 firefighting news source - Written by Monterey County Herald