A WILDFIRE BURNING IN THE LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST, NEAR THE TASSAJARA HOT SPRINGS AREA, HAS BURNED LESS THAN 200 ACRES SO FAR. THE WILDLAND BLAZE, WHICH IS BURNING IN THE SAME AREA AS THE 2008 WEST BASIN FIRE, WAS CALLED IN AROUND 1 P-M TODAY. ABOUT 200 FIREFIGHTERS ARE ON THE SCENE, ALONG WITH 4 LARGE AIR TANKERS (FROM WHICH FIRE RETARDANT CAN BE SPRAYED), AND AT LEAST 6 HELICOPTERS (THAT DUMP WATER). SEVERAL HUNDRED MORE FIREFIGHTERS ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON-SCENE TOMORROW MORNING.
ALTHOUGH NO VISITORS ARE BEING EVACUATED FROM THE NEARBY TASSAJARA ZEN MOUNTAIN CENTER, PEOPLE WHO HAVE RESERVATIONS THERE ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO COME TODAY OR TOMORROW BECAUSE IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE FOREST SERVICE WILL LET THEM THROUGH.
NO BOYSCOUTS WERE EVACUATED (THEY’RE CAMPED OVER NEAR PALO COLORADO) SO ARE AWAY FROM THE FIRE, BUT ABOUT 100 CAMPERS WERE EVACUATED FROM THE TASSAJARA HOT SPRINGS AREA TODAY.
A HOTLINE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR CONCERNED RESIDENTS IS EXPECTED TO BE UP AND OPERATIONAL SOMETIME TOMORROW.
