UPDATE: Monterey County announced Saturday afternoon that it is scaling back the evacuation center’s hours to daytime only, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Evacuees who need assistance outside of those hours should call 831-385-3677. Original story below.
SALINAS VALLEY — An evacuation center set up at the King City Library has expanded to a 24/7 schedule to provide resources and other assistance for residents who are evacuating from the Dolan Fire.
“Monterey County is expanding its support for Dolan Fire evacuees as potentially new and existing emergency notifications could be in place for some time,” said Maia Carroll, the county’s communications coordinator.
Monterey County opened the evacuation center earlier in the week as multiple evacuation orders and warnings were issued for areas west of Greenfield and King City due to the wildfire’s increased activity. Those orders and warnings remain in effect this weekend.
The library, 404 Broadway St., will now serve as a Temporary Evacuation Point, in addition to its role as an evacuation center. Staffing has increased to allow the center to be open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Evacuees are encouraged to call the center at 831-385-3677 for assistance.
For those leaving the fire zones, the center offers such housing as hotel accommodations or vouchers for evacuees who plan to shelter in their RVs. There are free RV parking spaces at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds or Laguna Seca Recreational Area, depending on availability and preference.
Monterey County offers an interactive fire map for residents to find which zone they live in at www.co.monterey.ca.us/2020Fires.
The Dolan Fire, which originated about 10 miles south of Big Sur off Highway 1, has burned 115,440 acres and destroyed 14 structures in the Los Padres National Forest’s Ventana Wilderness, west of the Salinas Valley. It is 30% contained as of Saturday morning.
“There was no noticeable activity on the north end of the fire last night,” the U.S. Forest Service said Saturday. “On the east side of the fire, from Arroyo Seco to Fort Hunter Liggett, there was light burning with slow rates of spread. There was moderate fire activity west of the Nacimiento Road near Ponderosa Campground. On the coastal side of the fire, the marine layer was intermittent and fire activity increased from the previous night.”
