Wildfire — Monterey, California

1996-10-07 to 1996-10-15 · near Cambria, Monterey, California

Wider weather episode

The fire known as Wild Cattle Canyon Fire burned over 20,000 acres mostly in the Las Padres National Forest and Big Sur area. This fire lasted 7 days and was supported by an IMET from San Juaoquin Valley NWFO. 15 Federal, State, and local agencies provided as many as 2200 firefighters were on the fire.Three Firefighter were injured from falling in the steep terrain. The cost in the firefight alone was $4.5 Million. 5 homes were distroyed. two vehicles,two travel trailers and nine outbuildings were distroyed. High temperatures proceeded the fires with a high of 102 in Monterey. Heavy fog caused problems because aircraft and helicopters could not operate over the very rugged terrain. A light drizzle finally came and aided the demise of the fire but also made the terrain very slippery and dangerous for firefighters.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5578331. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.