Containment grows on Timber Fire in California's Big Sur as firefight approaches 3rd week
Firefighters on Friday continued their efforts to contain the Timber Fire burning in California's Big Sur, as the firefight is set to enter its third week.
According to Cal Fire, the fire has burned at least 6,147 acres as of Friday afternoon, with containment at 29%. The fire was first reported on the night of August 8 in the Los Padres National Forest, southeast of Loma Vista.
"Overnight, firefighters continued to strengthen containment lines and assess for hot spots along the coastal side of the fire. The eastern side of the fire remains the most active. The northeastern flank continues to slowly back toward the South Fork of the Big Sur River drainage, with the fire remaining south of the Big Sur River," said a statement from the incident management team.
Officials added that bucket and retardant operations will continue Friday on the eastern part of the fire. Meanwhile, fire crews on the north and south areas of the fire will continue to strengthen contingency lines.
Along Highway 1, officials said agencies will work to address "safety and access concerns" which include loose and unstable rocks above the highway.
"We continue to mop up along the Highway 1 there, working with Caltrans on any mitigations that we need to take so that that road's not impacted and we can get it opened up as soon as possible," Operations Section Chief Marc Bontrager said in a video posted Friday morning.
A stretch of Highway 1 between Mile Marker 42.6 (near Deetjen's Big Sur Inn) and Mile Marker 37 (at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Vista Point) remains closed.
As of Friday afternoon, evacuation orders remain in effect for zones MRY-F027-B and MRY-F028-A.
Meanwhile, evacuation warnings are in effect for the following zones:
• MRY-FO21-B
• MRY-FO22
• MRY-FO23
• MRY-FO24
• MRY-FO25
• MRY-FO26
• MRY-FO27-A
• MRY-FO28-B
• MRY-FO29
The shelter at Carmel Middle School has closed as of Wednesday.
Officials said the cause of the Timber Fire remains under investigation.
