Plaskett Fire grows in California's Big Sur just south of Timber Fire; evacuations ordered
A new fire that broke out in California's Big Sur on Wednesday morning grew on Thursday, prompted evacuations just south of where crews have battled a massive wildfire that has burned for more than two weeks.
According to Cal Fire, the Plaskett Fire was first reported shortly after 11 a.m. off Forest Rd 23S10, east of Los Burros Road near the community of Plaskett. As of 5:59 p.m. Thursday, the fire has burned 140 acres with 0% containment.
Evacuation orders were issued for zones MRY-F035 and MRY-F036. Meanwhile, evacuation warnings have been issued for zones MRY-F033, MRY-F034, and MRY-F037. View evacuation zone map.
"Firefighters from various agencies including U.S. Forest Service, CAL FIRE, and local government are aggressively moving ground crews and heavy equipment to the perimeter of the Plaskett Fire in Monterey County to establish containment lines," officials said in a statement. "Specialized elite Hotshot crews are actively working to gain access to the fire's edge, while eight air tankers have been requested to fly overhead and assist ground personnel with targeted retardant drops."
Officials said Cal Fire's Tulare Charlie Strike Team has been deployed to Los Perros Road to assist about 30 residents, lead evacuation efforts and prepare homes for structure defense. Firefighters are also carrying out evacuations along Burro Road, where five to eight structures may be threatened.
The fire forced the closure of Highway 1 between Old Coast Road at mile marker 50.1 to the north and just north of Gorda at mile marker 10.2 to the south.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
The Plaskett Fire was burning about 20 miles south of the Timber Fire, which started in the Los Padres National Forest on the night of Aug. 8.
As of Thursday afternoon, the Timber Fire had burned 19,296 acres and was 21% contained, according to Cal Fire. More than 660 structures are threatened, officials said, and the fire has prompted multiple evacuation orders and evacuation warnings.
Officials said the cause of the Timber Fire is under investigation.
