Two Big Sur wildfires prompt evacuations and Highway 1 closure

Two wildfires are burning in the mountains of Big Sur, prompting new evacuations and a closure of a key stretch of Highway 1 as firefighters contend with steep, inaccessible terrain and dangerous weather conditions. The larger Timber Fire, which has been burning since early August, is now joined by the newly ignited Plaskett Fire, creating a complex challenge for emergency crews in the region.

The Plaskett Fire started on August 26 in southern Monterey County, approximately 25 to 30 miles south of the Timber Fire. As of Thursday morning, it had burned 140 acres with zero percent containment. The fire is burning along Forest Road 23S10, east of Los Burros Road near Plaskett, within the Los Padres National Forest. Due to the rugged landscape more than three miles from the nearest access road, firefighters have relied heavily on nine aircraft to drop water and retardant. Ground crews have hiked in to defend eight structures threatened by the blaze.

The California Highway Patrol closed an eight-mile stretch of Highway 1 on Thursday, blocking through access between points south of Old Coast Road and south of Deetjens Big Sur Inn. The iconic coastal road had been reopened for just two...