Update: Plaskett Fire reaches 28,968 acres, 1% contained
Update posted Sept. 2:
– The Plaskett Fire has burned 28,968 acres and is 1% contained, according to a Wednesday morning update.
The fire started Aug. 26 on Forest Road 23S10, east of Los Burros Road in the Plaskett area. Its cause remains under investigation. The U.S. Forest Service’s Los Padres National Forest has jurisdiction over the fire, which is being managed by California Interagency Incident Management Team 7.
Fire behavior moderated overnight following significant growth during previous operational periods. The eastern portion of the incident remains a primary operational concern as the fire continues burning toward and into Fort Hunter Liggett. Steep terrain and heavy fuels continue to influence fire behavior and limit direct access for firefighters.
Crews are focused on strengthening control lines and securing the western portion of the incident while monitoring fire activity across the perimeter.
Cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity are expected to help moderate fire behavior and support suppression operations.
Evacuation shelters are available at the Carmel Mission Inn Conference Room, 3665 Rio Road, Carmel, and the Cambria Veterans Memorial Building, 1000 Main St., Cambria.
Highway 1 remains closed to through traffic through the fire area. The closure extends from approximately mile marker 56, south of the Little Sur River, on the north end, to the Monterey-San Luis Obispo County line on the south end. There is no estimated reopening time.
Motorists are urged to avoid the area and follow posted closures and directions from emergency personnel.
Evacuation orders, evacuation warnings, and shelter-in-place orders, as well as additional incident information and status reports, are available through the Plaskett Fire incident page.
Update posted Aug. 31:
Photo from Cal Fire.
Evacuation warning extending into San Luis Obispo County
– The Plaskett Fire had burned 15,479 acres and was 1% contained as of the latest update posted at 10:22 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, according to fire officials.
The fire remained active Sunday evening after backing down to Highway 1, with crews focused on structure protection. The largest acreage growth occurred on the eastern side toward Fort Hunter Liggett and to the south near Los Burros Road, where crews continued structure defense.
Night-flying helicopters were in place to continue structure protection overnight. Other crews continued opening containment lines along Prewitt Ridge and South Coast Ridge Road.
Fire officials said heavy vegetation and limited fire history in the area are contributing to active fire behavior. Cooler weather and higher humidity are expected over the next few days.
Evacuation orders remain in effect in portions of Monterey County, with evacuation warnings extending into San Luis Obispo County. Three San Luis Obispo County evacuation zones — SLC-001, SLC-002 and SLC-003 — were added Sunday.
Residents can view current evacuation orders and warnings on the Cal Fire Incident Page.
Highway 1 remains closed from south of the Little Sur River at mile marker 56 to just north of the San Luis Obispo County line at mile marker 0.09. There is no estimated time for the highway to reopen.
The Plaskett Fire began Aug. 26 near Forest Road 23S10, east of Los Burros Road, in the Plaskett area. The cause remains under investigation.
New fire breaks out on Big Sur coast
– The Plaskett Fire grew to an estimated 80 acres Wednesday as firefighters worked to slow its spread in steep terrain in Monterey County.
The fire started at 11:01 a.m. Aug. 26 near Forest Road 23S10, east of Los Burros Road in Plaskett. The cause remains under investigation.
Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued in the area. An evacuation order is in effect for MRY-F036, while evacuation warnings are in effect for MRY-F035 and MRY-F037.
Officials said the evacuation order indicates an immediate threat to life and requires people in the affected area to leave immediately. Evacuation warnings indicate a potential threat to life or property, and officials advised people who need additional time to evacuate, as well as those with pets or livestock, to leave.
By 1:15 p.m., the fire had grown to an estimated 80 acres and was spreading at a moderate rate. Air resources were dropping water on the fire, which was burning in difficult-to-access terrain. A helibase had been established to support firefighting efforts.
Firefighters from the United States Forest Service, Cal Fire, and local government agencies were moving ground crews and heavy equipment to the fire perimeter to establish containment lines. Hotshot crews were working to reach the fire’s edge, and eight air tankers had been requested to make retardant drops.
The Cal Fire Tulare Charlie Strike Team was deploying to Los Perros Road to assist about 30 local residents with evacuations and prepare homes for structure defense. Firefighters were also conducting evacuations and structure defense along Burro Road, where initial mapping indicated between five and eight structures could be threatened.
By 3:12 p.m., nine aircraft had been assigned to the incident, including six helicopters conducting water-dropping operations.
Officials said the fire initially burned north-northwest before crossing a drainage and moving up the south side of a mountain after a slope reversal. The change in direction placed about eight structures under potential threat.
A Cal Fire Strike Team was engaged in structure defense and mitigation, while the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office conducted evacuations.
People affected by the fire should follow law enforcement directions and evacuation orders immediately.
Click here to view the Cal Fire incident page.
