Dozer Operator Killed in Rollover at CA Wildfire

A bulldozer operator who died helping battle a wildfire raging in the Big Sur area was identified as a 35-year-old Fresno County father of two children, officials said Thursday afternoon.

Robert Reagan III, a privately contracted heavy-equipment operator from the Sierra foothills town of Friant, died after rolling his earthmover in a remote area while helping fight the Soberanes Fire in Monterey County, officials said.

“Our deepest sympathies and thoughts are with Robert’s family, friends and firefighting community as they navigate through this difficult time,” Cal Fire, the state’s firefighting agency, said in a statement.

Reagan is survived by his wife and two young daughters. Relatives have established a Gofundme page online to raise money to help his family. Nearly $30,000 in donations had been made to the family by Thursday afternoon.

Reagan’s sister, Hannah Cunnings, said her brother was the type of person who was always looking for ways to help people.

“One of the strongest men I’ve ever known died doing what he does,” Cunnings said in a Facebook post Thursday. “My brother Robert helps others. A giver a fighter, a protector, a provider — Robert Reagan.”

Earlier Thursday, officials said the blaze grew overnight to 27,326 acres and was 10 percent contained.

The Soberanes Fire, which started Friday in Monterey County’s Garrapata State Park, also has destroyed at least 34 homes and is threatening an additional 2,000, according to Cal Fire. The blaze prompted the evacuation of hundreds of people.

Lynne Tolmachoff, a spokeswoman for Cal Fire, said warm weather in the area Thursday made battling the sprawling blaze “challenging to the firefighters.” Low humidity and warm temperatures in recent days have helped fuel the fire burning in steep canyons and ridges.

The governor’s office has issued a state of emergency in Monterey County, freeing up resources elsewhere in the state to help combat the fire.

The Palo Colorado community has been evacuated while those living on Robinson Canyon Road from San Clemente Trail to White Rock Gun Club have also been forced out. The communities around Old Coast Road, Bixby Creek Road, Corona Road and Riley Ranch Road were forced to flee as well.

An evacuation center has been set up at Carmel Middle School while more than 3,000 firefighters combat the blaze.

Popular campgrounds in the region, including Pfeiffer Big Sur and Andrew Molera state parks, were also shut down indefinitely because of the fire.

Meanwhile, the Sand Fire in Southern California has burned 38,346 acres and was 65 percent contained Thursday.

Hamed Aleaziz is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @haleaziz

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