Blab News
Timber Fire Nears 3,000 Acres, Evacuations Continue in Big Sur
A blazing inferno that erupted Saturday night in the Los Padres National Forest has now scorched nearly 3,000 acres, with CAL FIRE reporting only 5 % containment. The Timber Fire menaces 259 homes and businesses—most notably the Ventana Inn—and has shut down a ten‑mile swath of Highway 1 through Big Sur.
From its modest 180‑acre footprint in the early hours of Sunday, the fire has tripled twice and expanded to 2,989 acres by Tuesday. Fire officials logged 400 acres by Sunday evening, 800 by Monday morning, 1,723 by Monday afternoon, and 2,000 by Tuesday morning. The U.S. Forest Service dates the ignition to about 9:38 p.m. Saturday, and the blaze is now wreathed in steep, rugged slopes that hinder ground crews.
A total of 480 CAL FIRE personnel are on the scene, operating 36 engines, 13 hand crews, eight helicopters, seven water tenders, and five bulldozers. Air tankers from throughout the state stand ready to drop water as conditions permit. A dense marine layer keeps nighttime helicopter sorties limited, as crews cannot reach dip sites beneath the inversion. Firefighters are setting up a dip site above the layer to keep aerial support moving.
The state has issued evacuation orders for zones MRY‑F023, MRY‑F025, MRY‑F026, MRY‑F027 and the Ventana Inn‑containing portion of MRY‑F028 A. Warnings cover zones MRY‑F021‑A, MYR‑FO22, MRY‑F024 and MRY‑F028 B. Residents in order zones are told to leave with families, pets and emergency kits, while those in warning zones should assemble a go‑bag and arrange care for pets and large animals. Current evacuation updates are available at alertmry.org/alerts.
The California Highway Patrol has shut down Highway 1 from 47,200 ft. near Fernwood Resort on the north side to the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Vista Point at mile marker 37 on the south side—about ten miles of the iconic corridor. Drivers are urged to steer clear and heed all evacuation directives.
At 9 a.m. Tuesday, Monterey County shifted the temporary evacuation hub to Carmel Middle School at 4,380 Carmel Valley Road. The school hosts a shelter that opened Monday in partnership with the American Red Cross, offering food, water, cots, blankets and comfort kits. The Monterey County SPCA is providing pet care, and the facility will stay open until orders are lifted.
Meteorologists project warmer, drier weather on the fire’s eastern flank through early to mid‑week, with a 15 % chance of showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon and evening. The blaze’s measured spread has kept it mostly on the ground—consuming grass, brush and oak woodland—without yet igniting the treetops.
Investigators are still probing the cause of the Timber Fire. No injuries or deaths have been reported, and crews are working to safeguard homes and stop the fire from crossing Highway 1.
With the fire expanding, officials are tracking smoke‑induced air quality. The Monterey Bay Air Resources District is monitoring particulate matter via its wildfire smoke sensor network.
The blaze poses a serious threat to the Big Sur community, a sought‑after tourist spot famed for its rugged coast and sparse infrastructure. The continued evacuation and suppression underscore the difficulty of battling wildfires in steep, isolated terrain while shielding treasured cultural and natural assets.
Fire containment, weather projections, and evacuation orders will be refreshed as conditions evolve. Residents and visitors are urged to keep abreast of official updates and to follow all evacuation guidance.
From its modest 180‑acre footprint in the early hours of Sunday, the fire has tripled twice and expanded to 2,989 acres by Tuesday. Fire officials logged 400 acres by Sunday evening, 800 by Monday morning, 1,723 by Monday afternoon, and 2,000 by Tuesday morning. The U.S. Forest Service dates the ignition to about 9:38 p.m. Saturday, and the blaze is now wreathed in steep, rugged slopes that hinder ground crews.
A total of 480 CAL FIRE personnel are on the scene, operating 36 engines, 13 hand crews, eight helicopters, seven water tenders, and five bulldozers. Air tankers from throughout the state stand ready to drop water as conditions permit. A dense marine layer keeps nighttime helicopter sorties limited, as crews cannot reach dip sites beneath the inversion. Firefighters are setting up a dip site above the layer to keep aerial support moving.
The state has issued evacuation orders for zones MRY‑F023, MRY‑F025, MRY‑F026, MRY‑F027 and the Ventana Inn‑containing portion of MRY‑F028 A. Warnings cover zones MRY‑F021‑A, MYR‑FO22, MRY‑F024 and MRY‑F028 B. Residents in order zones are told to leave with families, pets and emergency kits, while those in warning zones should assemble a go‑bag and arrange care for pets and large animals. Current evacuation updates are available at alertmry.org/alerts.
The California Highway Patrol has shut down Highway 1 from 47,200 ft. near Fernwood Resort on the north side to the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Vista Point at mile marker 37 on the south side—about ten miles of the iconic corridor. Drivers are urged to steer clear and heed all evacuation directives.
At 9 a.m. Tuesday, Monterey County shifted the temporary evacuation hub to Carmel Middle School at 4,380 Carmel Valley Road. The school hosts a shelter that opened Monday in partnership with the American Red Cross, offering food, water, cots, blankets and comfort kits. The Monterey County SPCA is providing pet care, and the facility will stay open until orders are lifted.
Meteorologists project warmer, drier weather on the fire’s eastern flank through early to mid‑week, with a 15 % chance of showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon and evening. The blaze’s measured spread has kept it mostly on the ground—consuming grass, brush and oak woodland—without yet igniting the treetops.
Investigators are still probing the cause of the Timber Fire. No injuries or deaths have been reported, and crews are working to safeguard homes and stop the fire from crossing Highway 1.
With the fire expanding, officials are tracking smoke‑induced air quality. The Monterey Bay Air Resources District is monitoring particulate matter via its wildfire smoke sensor network.
The blaze poses a serious threat to the Big Sur community, a sought‑after tourist spot famed for its rugged coast and sparse infrastructure. The continued evacuation and suppression underscore the difficulty of battling wildfires in steep, isolated terrain while shielding treasured cultural and natural assets.
Fire containment, weather projections, and evacuation orders will be refreshed as conditions evolve. Residents and visitors are urged to keep abreast of official updates and to follow all evacuation guidance.
