SALINAS VALLEY — Monterey County has opened an additional evacuation shelter for fire evacuees at Sherwood Hall in Salinas and an evacuation center at the Monterey County Free Libraries Branch in King City, as several wildfires continue to spread throughout the region.
Sherwood Hall, which is open now for evacuees at 940 N. Main St., had already been established as a stand-by alternative housing site for Covid-19. The facility is equipped to provide sleeping accommodations and services for those in need.
“Covid-19 protocols are in place for the shelter,” the county said Friday in a news release. “Those coming to the shelter will need to have face coverings and be prepared to social distance and follow directions from shelter staff regarding Covid procedures. Temperature checks will be taken for everyone’s safety.”
To access the shelter, evacuees must provide proof of residency in the fire evacuation zone.
Carmel Middle School remains open as a 24-hour shelter for evacuees, as well.
The county is also opening an evacuation center at the King City Library, 402 Broadway St., in addition to another center at the Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, in Monterey. Evacuation centers are open during daytime hours, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and provide information and support, snacks, water and device charging for evacuees.
A previous evacuation center at Laguna Seca is now closed. Only those who are sheltering with RVs and camping will be allowed to stay at the site.
Evacuees can call the American Red Cross Emergency Services line at 1-866-272-2237 for additional help.
SPCA for Monterey County is also offering assistance to those evacuating with pets. Contact the animal shelter at 831-264-5455 for safe housing needs.
More than 9,000 residents have been evacuated due to area fires, Cal Fire said.
The River Fire, located off Pine Canyon and River roads south of Salinas, continues to increase in size, burning more than 39,464 acres and destroying 10 buildings as of Friday. Another 3,005 structures are being threatened by the wildfire, which is currently 9% contained.
“A spot fire on the northern side of the fire grew rapidly with a strong west wind increasing threat to structures in multiple major housing developments,” Cal Fire said Friday in its latest incident update. “Winds increased fire activity on the southeast portion of the fire, impacting public safety communications and television infrastructure. Portions of the east side of the fire continued to progress towards agricultural fields.”
The Carmel Fire, which is less than 2 miles away from the River Fire, has burned 4,732 acres and is 0% contained as of Friday. At least 28 structures have been destroyed and another 462 are being threatened, including residential and commercial buildings.
Firefighters are also battling the Dolan Fire, located in the Ventana Wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest near Big Sur. That fire has grown to more than 8,500 acres and is 0% contained as of Friday.
