Quick Take
Crews are trying to make progress on the Timber and Plaskett fires, which continue to burn near Big Sur in Monterey County. The Timber fire has scorched roughly 25,190 acres and is only 22% contained. The Plaskett fire has only grown since last week, burning 26,734 acres and only 1% contained.
Two massive wildfires in Monterey County continue to grow as crews struggle to contain both.
The larger of the two fires, the Timber fire, had burned roughly 25,190 acres as of Monday night, and was 22% contained. Crews are focused on reinforcing fire lines that are already in place to ensure that the fire does not spread further, according to Cal Fire’s incident page.
The blaze was first reported the morning of Aug. 9, and officials say it still poses a risk to the Big Sur area and nearby communities in southern Monterey County. No new evacuation orders or warnings have been issued as of Monday night.
A Cal Fire incident management team, a specialized group of emergency personnel that provide leadership and coordination during complicated incidents, continues to lead the fire response. A crew from the Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County was sent out to help with the ongoing efforts.
The northern Highway 1 closure is now located at Mile Marker 56, just south of the Little Sur River and extends toward Mile Marker 45, which is located just south of Big Sur Deli.
State parks within the Big Sur area remain closed, including Point Sur State Historic Park, Andres Molera State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
Just 25 miles south, the Plaskett fire had spread to 26,734 acres as of Monday night, and was 1% contained. Officials say the fire is growing rapidly and is burning in “steep, rugged terrain with thick vegetation,” making it harder for ground crews to reach.
Evacuation orders have been issued to several zones in south Monterey County, and officials in San Luis Obispo County have also issued evacuation warnings as of Monday, according to the Cal Fire incident page.
Highway 1 in this area of Monterey County has been closed, starting at Mile Marker 16.0, which is just north of the Pacific Valley Bluff Trailhead. The southern edge of the closure is located at Mile Marker 2.1 south of Salmon Creek.
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