Update: Timber Fire grows to 25,223 acres, 22-percent containment
Update posted Sept. 2:
– The Timber Fire has burned 25,223 acres and is 22% contained as firefighters continue strengthening control lines and conducting mop-up operations, according to a Wednesday morning update from Cal Fire.
The fire, which started Aug. 8 southeast of Loma Vista on the Los Padres National Forest, remains under investigation. The Los Padres National Forest and Monterey County Sheriff’s Department have jurisdiction over the incident, which is being managed by California Complex Incident Management Team 3.
Fire behavior remained moderated during the previous operational period, resulting in minimal additional growth. Crews continue strengthening established control lines and mopping up along the Highway 1 corridor. Suppression repair operations also continue south from Pfeiffer Camp.
Firefighters and heavy equipment operators are working to connect and reinforce completed dozer and control lines to reduce the potential for additional inland fire spread. Cooler temperatures and improved overnight humidity recovery are providing favorable conditions for suppression efforts.
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 advised 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 Timber Fire incident page.
Update posted Aug. 31:
Update: Timber Fire grows to 24,970 acres, remains at 21-percent containment
– The Timber Fire had burned 24,970 acres and was 21% contained as of the latest update posted at 6:28 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30.
Firefighters and heavy equipment continued improving containment lines from Bottchers Gap and Kincannon Road to Los Padres Dam and along Coast Ridge Road, according to the Cal Fire Incident Page. Hotshot crews remained in remote portions of the Ventana Wilderness, where crews are hiking into areas inaccessible to dozers and receiving helicopter support.
Firing operations around Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park held through Sunday, with firefighters continuing mop-up along Highway 1.
Smoky skies. Photo by Cal Fire.
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 0.9. Local resident traffic is allowed between mile markers 16 and 45.
Some North County residents have reported seeing smoke in the sky from the Timber Fire and the nearby Plaskett Fire, which is also burning in the Big Sur area.
Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect in portions of Monterey County, along with shelter-in-place orders in some areas. View the current evacuation zone map here.
The Timber Fire began Aug. 8 southeast of Loma Vista in Monterey County and remains under investigation.
Update posted Aug. 27:
Update: Timber Fire grows to 19,296 acres, drops to 21-percent containment
– The Timber Fire has burned 19,296 acres and was 21% contained as of the latest update on Wednesday, as firefighters continued working across Monterey County.
The fire started Aug. 8 southeast of Loma Vista. Its cause remains under investigation. The Los Padres National Forest and Monterey County Sheriff’s Department have jurisdiction over the fire.
The fire continues to show active growth, with warm, dry conditions and low humidity contributing to fire activity. Heavy smoke has also reduced visibility along the Highway 1 corridor during the morning hours.
Firefighters are working on several parts of the fire. On the northwest side, the fire crossed Ventana Creek and continued uphill through the Lion Creek drainage toward Ventana Double Cone and the upper Carmel River basin. Officials expect the fire to eventually back downhill into the Little Sur drainage, where it should spread more slowly.
On the eastern side, the fire continues spreading north and east near the North and South Forks of the Big Sur River and through the South Fork drainage. Around Pico Blanco Camp, crews are improving secondary lines, clearing vegetation, and preparing structures.
Crews are also building control lines from Bottcher Gap and Kincannon Road toward Los Padres Dam while protecting sensitive cultural resources.
Near Memorial Campground and Arroyo Seco Indians Road, firefighters are reopening dozer lines, scouting additional lines and safety zones, improving access, establishing water supplies, and preparing structures. Crews are also improving Coast Ridge Road as a control feature and conducting strategic firing operations as conditions allow.
The fire’s growth and firefighting operations have affected Highway 1 throughout the past week. As of Aug. 20, the northern portion of the closure was at mile marker 42.6, about one-half mile south of Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn, while the southern portion was at mile marker 37 at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Vista Point.
The closure will change Thursday. Highway 1 will close in both directions at 1 p.m. from just south of Old Coast Road at mile marker 50.1 to just south of Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn at mile marker 42.6. The closure will remain in place for an undetermined amount of time.
The closure will support firefighting and evacuation operations. Drivers should use U.S. 101 as an alternate route.
Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect in multiple areas. Current evacuation orders include zones MRY-D082, MRY-D089, MRY-D090, MRY-D091, MRY-FO15-B, MRY-F015-C, MRY-FO23-B, MRY-F028-B, MRY-F028-C, MRY-F029, and MRY-F031-A.
Evacuation warnings remain in effect for MRY-FO15-B, MRY-D078, MRY-D084, MRY-D085, MRY-D086, MRY-D088, MRY-FO-20, MRY-F021-B, MRY-F022, MRY-FO23-A, MRY-F024, MRY-F025, MRY-F026, MRY-F027-A, MRY-F027-B, MRY-F028-A, MRY-F028-D, MRY-F030-A, MRY-F030-B, MRY-F031-B, MRY-F032-A, and MRY-F032-B.
Monterey County also announced additional evacuation changes, warnings, and shelter-in-place directives beginning Thursday at 1 p.m. in response to planned strategic fire operations.
Weather conditions are expected to change Thursday afternoon. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity are expected through Saturday, although officials said the shift could bring gusty, unpredictable winds. Dry weather is expected to return Sunday.
Officials said Wednesday that temperatures would approach 90 degrees, humidity would fall into the single digits, and southwest winds could gust into the mid-teens. Smoke could reduce visibility through the morning.
The latest incident information lists the Timber Fire at 21% containment and 19,296 acres.
Updates are available through the Timber Fire status reports and the Timber Fire incident information page.
Update posted Aug. 19:
– Officials reported the 5,526-acre Timber Fire at 24% containment as of 7:16 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Cal Fire incident page.
The fire started at 8:35 p.m. Aug. 8 southeast of Loma Vista. Officials continue to investigate the cause.
Photos from Cal Fire.
Crews reported limited fire growth overnight along the eastern portion of the fire near Longwood Ridge. Fire activity remained minimal, and helicopters will support ground crews with water drops Wednesday as they work to secure hand lines.
The fire continued to back slowly toward the Big Sur River on its northeastern side while burning at a low intensity. The fire remained south of the river.
Crews will continue improving contingency lines and conducting mop-up operations along the western side of the fire. Cooperating agencies will assess Highway 1 road conditions and address utility and safety concerns.
High pressure continues to build over the area, compressing the marine layer and bringing warmer and drier conditions over the fire. Forecasters expect marine layer clouds along the coast, followed by sunny skies later in the day.
Update posted Aug. 17:
– The Timber Fire had burned approximately 4,869 acres in Los Padres National Forest and reached 15% containment as of 5 p.m. Sunday, according to Monterey County officials.
The fire is burning southeast of Loma Vista in the Big Sur area of Monterey County.
Highway 1 remains closed from 47200 Highway 1, at milepost 45.1 near Big Sur Bakery, to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Vista Point at milepost 37. Residents and businesses cannot enter or leave areas under evacuation orders.
Officials urged residents in and near the evacuation zones to remain vigilant, stay informed, and follow all evacuation orders and warnings.
Carmel Middle School, 4380 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel, remains open around the clock as an evacuation shelter.
Officials have established a temporary evacuation point at the Carmel Valley Library, 65 W. Carmel Valley Road in Carmel. The location will operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Monday and will serve evacuated residents in need. For information, call (831) 647-7760 or (800) 322-6884.
Air quality remains in the good-to-moderate range outside Big Sur. Officials said air quality will remain variable and unpredictable. Updates are available at mbard.org/current-air-quality-forecast.
Power remains off in the area surrounding the fire. Outage information is available through the PG&E outage map.
Residents can register for emergency alerts at alertmontereycounty.org. Additional information is available on the Timber Fire incident page and the Ready Monterey County emergency page.
Update posted Aug. 13:
Photo from County of Monterey.
–The Timber Fire has burned approximately 3,774 acres in Big Sur and remained 5% contained as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, according to a public information update from Monterey County.
The fire is burning in Los Padres National Forest southeast of Loma Vista.
Highway 1 remained closed from 47200 Highway 1 near the Big Sur Bakery at milepost 45.1 on the north end to the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Vista Point at milepost 37 on the south end. Residents and businesses in evacuation-order zones could not enter or exit the area.
Officials issued evacuation orders for zones MRY-F023, MRY-F025, MRY-F026, MRY-F027, and MRY-F028-A. Evacuation warnings remained in effect for zones MRY-F021-B, MRY-F022, MRY-F024, MRY-F028-B, and MRY-F029.
Officials moved the shelter and temporary evacuation point from Big Sur Station to Carmel Valley Middle School, 4380 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel. The shelter is open 24 hours a day, and the temporary evacuation point operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The location will remain open daily until officials lift the evacuation orders.
Officials urged residents in and near the evacuation zones to remain vigilant, stay informed, and follow evacuation orders and warnings.
Air quality remained in the good-to-moderate range, except in Big Sur, where conditions could vary. Air quality updates are available at mbard.org/current-air-quality-forecast.
Power remained de-energized in the area surrounding the fire. Outage updates are available through the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. outage map.
Residents can register for emergency alerts at alertmontereycounty.org. Additional updates are available on the Timber Fire incident page and the Ready Monterey County emergency page.
Original article posted Aug. 12:
Map shows areas affected by evacuation notices
– The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office issued an immediate evacuation order for part of Big Sur and new evacuation warnings for three other areas because of the Timber Fire. The affected areas are shown on the evacuation map above.
The Sheriff’s Office issued the notices at noon Tuesday.
Officials ordered people in zone MRY-F023 to leave immediately because of a threat to life and property. Residents should take their families, pets, emergency supply kits, essential documents, and records.
The Sheriff’s Office also issued evacuation warnings for zones MRY-F021-B, MRY-F022, and MRY-F029.
An evacuation warning means an evacuation order could follow. Officials urged people in the warning areas to prepare a go-bag, gather essential items, and make arrangements to leave, particularly if they have pets or large animals or need additional time or assistance.
All previously issued evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect.
More information and evacuation updates are available at alertmry.org/alerts.
