The MANDATORY HAS BEEN LIFTED!!!!!!!

July 17, about 8:45 pm...

We just got a call from Rod McMahon, Public Information Officer of Cachagua Fire...

Rod just got off the phone with Rich Hawkins, Deputy Incident Commander, Basin Fire, East Side, the MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER HAS BEEN LIFTED for Tassajara Road as of 7:30pm tonight!

We have been downgraded from a Mandatory to Voluntary Evacuation Order. The Mandatory Evacuation order remains in place for Martin Road to Piney Creek, but is expected to be lifted soon and the MANDATORY EVACUATION Order moved back to between Piney Creek and Cahoon Summit (see below).

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Road Closures lifted, Road Closures Remaining:

There is a soft closure  - residents only and service vehicles (trash, repair people, contractors, etc.) at Sleepy Hollow. The CHP checkpoint at Trampa Canyon has been removed and the CHP Checkpoint at Carmel Valley Road - Tassajara Road intersection has been moved back to Martin Road.

Martin Road to Piney Creek remains closed, but is expected to be reopened soon and the closure moved back to between Piney Creek and Cahoon Summit, where further backburning is planned.

Yo, Jamesburg Cachagua... JAILBREAK!!!

The backburn was a resounding success!!!

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Evacuation and Road Closure Changes (this is the official release) 

Effective Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. the following changes will occur:

Evacuation Changes:

• Effective at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2008, the mandatory evacuation in the Lower Cachagua and Tassajara Road areas will be downgraded to VOLUNTARY evacuations. This includes the full length of Cachagua Road and Tassajara Road down to the Zen Center.
  

Road Closure Changes:

• Carmel Valley Road will be open only to residents, their employees, and emergency vehicles from the intersection of Sleepy Hollow Road south to the intersection of Martin Road. It is also open only to residents, their employees, and emergency vehicles from the intersection of Piney Creek Road south to Arroyo Seco Road.

• All of Cachagua Road will be open only to residents, their employees, and emergency vehicles.
  

Effective Friday, July 18, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. the following changes will occur:

Evacuation Changes:

• Effective at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 18, 2008, the mandatory evacuation in the area along Carmel Valley Road between Martin Road and Piney Creek Road will be downgraded to a VOLUNTARY evacuation. 
  

Road Closure Changes:

• Carmel Valley Road will be open only to residents, their employees, and emergency vehicles from the intersection of Sleepy Hollow Road south to the intersection of Arroyo Seco Road.
  

Reminders:

Residents throughout the Cachagua and Carmel Valley Road areas will need to stay in a state of continual preparation for a return to a mandatory evacuation status at some future point until the fire is contained.

All motorists are urged to maintain slow rates of speed throughout the fire area, as well as remain vigilant while driving as there will be firefighters and equipment working near the roadway as well as debris in the roadway.

Fire officials remind everyone that the Basin Complex Fire is still active. Portions of Highway 1 and access roads may be closed intermittently to provide for firefighter safety and access.

For Basin Complex Fire information go to www.inciweb.org, or call the Monterey County Emergency Operations Center at (831) 796-1990 or go to their website at www.co.monterey.ca.us.