Firefighters battling Monterey County’s two Big Sur wildfires, the biggest in California, tightened confinement of both blazes on Saturday, officials said.
The Plaskett Fire was 31% contained, up from 23% on Friday, while the Timber Fire‘s containment increased to 27% from 23%, Cal Fire said.
The Plaskett Fire in the Los Padres National Forest had charred 29,831 acres as of Saturday, compared with 29,768 acres a day before, fire officials said. It has been burning since Aug. 26.
“The Plaskett Fire spread has moderated under cooler conditions, allowing crews to continue making progress,” Cal Fire said on social media. “Steep, rugged terrain, heavy vegetation, and limited access continue to challenge suppression operations.”
Fire crews assigned to the Plaskett Fire were focused on structure defense and protection of critical infrastructure, Cal Fire said.
The state’s second-largest blaze, the Timber Fire, was 25,357 acres on Saturday, barely changed from 25,346 acres the day before. It has been burning since Aug. 8.
“The Timber Fire behavior remains moderate with minimal additional growth,” Cal Fire said. “Cooler temperatures and improved humidity continue to provide favorable conditions for suppression operations.”
Evacuation orders and warnings remained in effect across portions of Monterey County and Fort Hunter Liggett, the U.S. Army Reserve’s largest training installation.
The 165,000-acre military reservation is in Jolon, adjoining the San Luis Obispo County line.
A portion of state Highway 1 remained closed from mile marker 19 at the Kirk Creek Campground to mile marker 0.0 at the Monterey/San Luis Obispo County line, Cal Fire said.