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.