A 1,086-acre wildfire in Monterey County has turned deadly, fire officials said Sunday.
According to a Cal Fire update, the so-called Tassaja Fire, which started at 3 p.m. Saturday in a community just north of Jamesburg, has claimed a life. Further details about the casualty were not immediately available.
The fire is 30 percent contained and has "damaged or destroyed" 10 residences, Cal Fire officials said. "Numerous" outbuildings are also believed to have been affected by the fire, they added.
By Sunday morning, 590 fire personnel were on the scene with 35 fire engines, five airtankers, two helicopters and three dozers.
Last night. #TassajaraFire pic.twitter.com/ZXbPXQh9D2
— Susan Beddingfield (@TassajaraRd) September 20, 2015The communities of Cachagua and Jamesburg have been evacuated as has Tassajara Road from Carmel Valley to Cachagua roads. The American Red Cross has set up an evacuation center at Carmel Middle School at 4380 Carmel Valley Road while the Monterey County SPCA is handling the evacuation of large animals, officials said.
According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, deputies will escort evacuees to their neighborhoods between 3 and 7 p.m. so they can check on their homes.
Cal Fire is investigating the cause of the fire.
