Jacks Peak Park in Monterey County was closed to hikers, picnickers and horseback riders on Sunday after a fire broke out on Saturday. The fire was kept to about half an acre by Cal Fire crews and firefighters from the Monterey County Regional Fire Protection District, Carmel Highlands Fire Prote ction District, and city of Monterey. It broke out just before 5 p.m. off Jacks Peak Road in the forested park that is a popular recreation destination. The park off state Highway 68 has about 8.5 miles of hiking trails and borders the city of Monterey to the southeast. Forward progress on the fire was stopped at about 6 p.m., according to Cal Fire. Crews continued to do mop up duty throughout the day, which involves fortifying containment lines, monitoring for hotspots, and churning up soil and vegetation to ensure the fire isn’t burning underneath cover. The park’s closure could extend into Monday, according to a statement from Monterey County. ...read more read less