2 Fires Char 6,000 Acres in N. California

Fires that burned about 6,000 acres on two fronts in Monterey County were close to being contained late Friday, fire officials said.

About 670 firefighters battled the larger blaze that burned about 4,700 acres near Paraiso Spring, a hot springs resort area with cabins about 10 miles west of Soledad. The fire was 60% contained by late Friday afternoon, said Karen Dedrick, state Forestry Department spokeswoman.

Dedrick said containment was expected by 6 p.m. today.

The smaller fire that started Thursday night burned out of control over 1,000 acres and threatened homes near Big Sur on the northern end of the Los Padres National Forest, 14 miles northwest of Carmel.

Situation Improved

But with 400 firefighters and three helicopters working on the blaze, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Gerry Little said late Friday afternoon that the situation had improved.

“Right now the fire seems to be sitting down,” Little said. “Things look pretty good.”

Little said the fire on Friday was moving in a northeasterly direction, away from the coast.

Winds of 40 m.p.h. were forecast, and firefighters feared that the uncontrolled fires would spread to more tinder-dry brush and chaparral.

In the bigger blaze, a vintner stood ready Friday to use his wine to keep the fire from spreading to his small winery.

“If we have to, we’ll fight the fire with wine,” said a worried Chris Todd, whose small Smith & Hook Winery was about 1,600 yards from the flames. “There’s lots of smoke and the whole winery smells . . . the wine’s safe in stainless steel tanks--I hope. It could come this way.”

Table Wine

The small winery and 250 acres of vineyards produce about 10,000 cases of table wine a year, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon.

Rancher Morris C. Casinelli was cited Friday “as the individual we believe to be responsible for this fire for burning without a permit,” said Fire Capt. Steve Wood of the Forestry Department.

The officer said Casinelli reportedly started the fire Thursday as a controlled burn to get rid of unwanted brush, but the fire got away just before noon.

Casinelli will be arraigned in Salinas Municipal Court on the two misdemeanor counts. He could be billed for the cost of fighting the fire if he is convicted, Wood said.

“If I were Casinelli, I would be much more concerned about the bill rather than the misdemeanors,” he added.

About 692 firefighters from the Forestry Department, Soledad, Greenfield and the Forest Service were battling the bigger fire, aided by 35 engines, several air tankers and four helicopters.

About 30 miles to the northwest, homes were threatened by the 1,000-acre fire in the Los Padres National Forest in the Ventana Wilderness Area near the scenic Big Sur coast.