Timber Fire Burns More Than 1,700 Acres, Evacuations Ordered in Big Sur

A fast-growing wildfire known as the Timber Fire burned more than 1,700 acres in Big Sur and prompted evacuation orders for parts of the area’s iconic destinations, including Nepenthe restaurant, the Henry Miller Memorial Library and the Alila Ventana resort.

“burning more than 1,700 acres”

Los Angeles Times

The fire began Sunday morning in the Los Padres National Forest southeast of the neighborhood of Loma Vista and quickly scorched 400 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

CBS News

By Monday afternoon, it had more than quadrupled in size, and Cal Fire Battalion Chief Josh Silveira said, "Firefighters on the ground are experiencing some extremely steep and rugged terrain mixed with hot, dry temperatures and winds that are pretty variable."

Evacuation orders were issued and then expanded Monday as the fire grew, and Cal Fire assumed command of the incident from the U.S. Forest Service at 4 p.m. Monday.

The blaze was 5% contained Monday evening, with containment lines focused on the western edge of the fire nearest to PCH, Silveira said.

The California Highway Patrol closed Highway 1 to the public at Point Sur Lighthouse and at Vista Point near Mile Marker 37.5, while residents were allowed to transit the area, according to Lookout Santa Cruz.

As of 3:34 p.m. Monday, the Timber Fire had burned 1,723 acres and was only 5% contained, with three zones under evacuation orders and four others under evacuation warnings, Lookout Santa Cruz reported.

deeparrival

Lookout Santa Cruz said Cecile Juliette, the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit spokesperson, told the outlet that a Cal Fire incident management team would assume command of the fire at 6 p.m. despite the fire occurring on federal land.

In Monterey County, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office told residents and visitors in an expanding evacuation zone to "leave now" and asked the public to "stay out of the area" to keep roadways clear for first responders, the Salinas Californian reported.

The Salinas Californian also said the expanding wildfire was located on the Big Sur side of the Santa Lucia Mountains near Highway 1 around marker 32, north of Limekiln State Park, and that Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and the Henry Miller Library were closed.

A temporary evacuation shelter was set up at Carmel Middle School, 4380 Carmel Valley Road, and the Salinas Californian said it would open at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, and remain open until evacuation orders from the Timber Fire in Big Sur were lifted.

“The shelter will open at 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 10, at Carmel Middle School”

Salinas Californian

The Salinas Californian reported that the shelter would be equipped with essential supplies and services, including food and water and cots and blankets, and that the SPCA would be on site to provide a dedicated sheltering area and support for evacuees with pets.

Monterey County officials also set up a temporary evacuation point at 47555 Highway 1 in Big Sur at the Big Sur Station-Multi Agency Facility, which would remain open Monday through Thursday or until evacuation orders were lifted, from 12 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the Salinas Californian.

Cal Fire said the fire was burning along the ground through grass, brush and oak woodland and had not moved to treetops, while ground crews worked to access difficult terrain and aircraft dropped water and retardant to slow growth, the SFGATE reported.

The SFGATE also said a major focus of the response was protecting nearby homes and preventing the fire from crossing state Highway 1, which had been closed in certain areas but was open for Point Sur Lighthouse Vista Point and near mile marker 37.5, according to the California Highway Patrol.