New mapping for the Timber Fire burning in Monterey County has the blaze at just under 19,000 acres Wednesday night, with containment at 21%, according to Cal Fire.
The fire, burning in the rugged Central Coast wilderness around Big Sur, grew to 18,944 acres Wednesday as evacuation orders remained for 11 zones.
On Thursday beginning at 1 p.m., a hard closure between mile markers 50, one mile south of Old Coast Road, and 42.6, one-half mile south of Deetjens Big Sur Inn on state Highway 1 near Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park will take effect in response to backburning operations and upcoming planned strategic fire operations, Cal Fire and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said. Caltrans will evaluate the roadway before it is reopened.
The fire has been most active along its eastern and southern portions, and crews continue to monitor its spread, attacking it where conditions and terrain allow, according to Cal Fire officials.
Currently, about 1,500 firefighters, 14 helicopters, 81 fire engines and 14 bulldozers are working the fire. No injuries, deaths or damaged or destroyed structures have been reported.
The Timber Fire started on Aug. 8 and the cause is still under investigation.
New fire breaks out south of Timber Fire
Fire crews are also working to battle another fire that broke out Wednesday morning in southern Monterey County and has prompted an evacuation order.
According to Cal Fire, the Plaskett Fire is located about 40 miles south of the Timber Fire east of Plaskett, an unincorporated community along the coast. The fire, which was first reported around 11 a.m., has so far burned 100 acres.
An evacuation order for the Plaskett Fire has been issued for Zone MRY-F036. Evacuation warnings are in effect for zones MRY-F035 and MRY-F037.
Neil Gamboa is a planning operations section chief for the Timber Fire with the California Incident Management Team 3. Gamboa said that some resources from the Timber Fire are being used to manage the Plaskett Fire.
He said in a briefing Wednesday that a “big” contingent was heading to the Plaskett Fire “along with a heavy onset of air force to help support that.”
Gamboa said that additional resources may be deployed to the Plaskett Fire if needed. As of noontime Wednesday, several firefighting teams, engines, and air tactical units had responded.
According to a Cal Fire update, the fire was 0% contained. The fire was growing at a “moderate rate of spread” and was located in “very difficult terrain that is hard to access,” the agency wrote in an update.
Given that the Plaskett Fire was still in its infancy, Gamboa said he did not know how the new fire might affect the response to the Timber Fire.
Residents who want to view emergency updates with evacuation information can visit Ready Monterey County or sign up for Alert Monterey County to receive alerts through calls, text messages or emails.