Date:	Wednesday, August 26, 2026
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Ashton Harris
Phone:	(805) 549-3138

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

*UPDATE #3*

EIGHT-MILE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY 1 IN BIG SUR TO CLOSE

IN SUPPORT OF TIMBER FIRE OPERATIONS

MONTEREY COUNTY – As of 1 pm Thursday, August 27, an eight-mile stretch of Highway 1 will be closed to support Timber Fire emergency response.

As the Timber Fire emergency response remains active, Highway 1 will close from approximately 0.5 miles south of Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn at Post Mile 42.6 to near Andrew Molera State Park at Post Mile 50 to facilitate firefighting and evacuation operations.

Electronic message boards will alert travelers in advance of the closure. Avoid any unnecessary travel through the area. Drivers should use US 101 as an alternate route. We want to thank the community and the public for their patience while we continue to support the emergency response of the Timber Fire in Big Sur.

Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.

Our crews deserve to get home safely too.

Drive slowly and carefully in work zones.

CHP Traffic Incident Information Page: http://cad.chp.ca.gov

Traveler information at: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/

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CURRENT SITUATION: The Plaskett Fire, near the 30900 Block of Los Burros Rd, approximately two miles east of Plaskett Creek Campground, was reported this morning. PLASKETT FIRE EVACUATION ORDER and WARNINGS: Effective immediately, The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has issued an Evacuation Order for the following Evacuation Zone: MRY-F036. An Evacuation Order means you should leave the area now due to an immediate threat to life and property.  Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is issuing an Evacuation Warning for Monterey County Zones MRY-F035 and MRY-F037. When a Warning is issued, assume an Evacuation Order could follow. This is your window to get ready: especially if you have pets, large animals, or if you need extra time or assistance to leave. Follow directions of public safety officials. Monitor official channels for updates. More info: alertmry.org/alerts

10:30 am – 50 acres and asking for permission for retardant.

10 am – Fire was spotted and called in by JC this am. HE is on Plaskett, not the fire. The fire is in the south fork of Willow Creek near the north fork junction. More of a threat to Los Burros people at this point than to Plaskett, but that will change at some point.

Here is a photo JC took about 10 am: AA from Santa Maria on site or on the way.

Wednesday (8/26/26) Morning Update: The Timber Fire ran northwest out of Ventana Creek shortly after sunset last night, crossing into the headwaters of the South Fork Little Sur River. While the fire is centered over the Big Sur River watershed, it is now getting established in both the Carmel and Little Sur watersheds as well.

On the west, an active fire front now stretches from the base of Mt. Manuel (on Ventana Creek) north through Doolan’s Hole and all the way to the Little Sur side of the ridge. This means runs to the top of Mt. Manuel and the Cabezo Prieto Ridge could happen at any time – likely causing renewed evacuation orders in the Big Sur Valley.

The far northern end of the fire continues slowly backing down into the Carmel River watershed near the Ventana Double Cone, mainly in a drainage sometimes unofficially called Round Rock Creek, since it enters the Carmel River near Round Rock camp.

The eastern side of the fire has still not made any runs up to Pine Ridge or the South Ventana Cone. This could happen at any time, as these are steep, brush covered slopes. Instead, it has continued to flank to the east along the lower slopes.

Fire has also remained quite active, and has continued moving east, on the ridge between the North and South Forks of the Big Sur River. It now seems certain that the entire Big Sur watershed will burn – not a great scenario heading into an El Niño winter.

The southern end of the fire has also remained active, becoming better established in Pick Valley, and moving into a position where it will be able to run west at the Coast Ridge. Firefighters have been preparing for days to prevent it from recrossing the Coast Ridge in this area.

CURRENT SITUATION:  

Acres: 16,368   Containment: 27%   Resources Assigned:  1,788

CURRENT SITUATION:

Fire behavior increased through the afternoon as the inversion lifted, allowing warming, drying, and southwest winds to align with exposed drainages and ridge systems. The fire remains active on the northwestern side, where it has crossed the Ventana Creek drainage and continues pushing upslope toward Manuel Peak. Crews prioritized building and reinforcing existing containment lines, improving access, and preparing for potential structure defense if the fire continues its upslope progression.

On the east/southeast side, the fire continues backing toward Pick Creek; fire crews cut hand lines, strengthened containment lines, and advanced hose lay construction along Coastal Ridge Road in preparation for potential strategic burnout tomorrow from Logwood Creek up to Coastal Ridge Road. Night crews will take advantage of cooler evening temperatures to continue widening and improving control lines. To support extended operations in steep, remote terrain, some firefighters are “spiking out,” meaning they establish short‑term, remote camps near the work site. This reduces travel time, keeps crews closer to critical operational areas, and enhances both safety and efficiency.

WEATHER:

The marine layer is expected to remain compressed tonight and will not push inland far or deep, leaving the fire area warmer and much drier with limited humidity recovery. Moderate southwest winds are expected, though localized winds remain variable in drainages, supporting continued backing and flanking fire behavior through the night.

CLOSURES:

Los Padres National Forest has a closure order in effect for trails and roads in the fire area.

Evacuation orders and warnings were updated on August 25, 1:00 P.M. For the latest evacuation information, visit Ready Monterey County: readymontereycounty.org/emergency

Timber Fire Information

2026.Timber@firenet.gov

(831) 285-7006

Website: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calpf-timber-fire

lospadresnationalforest

MontereyCountySheriffsOffice

MontereyCoInfo  

linktr.ee/CAL_FIRE_BEU

Timber Fire Morning Update

August 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m.

lospadresnationalforest

MontereyCountySheriffsOffice

MontereyCoInfo

Fire information: (831) 285-7006

Fire email: 2026.timber@firenet.gov

Website: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-

information/calpf-timber-fire

linktr.ee/CAL_FIRE_BEU

Location: Southeast of Loma Vista, Monterey County Size: 15,898 acres

Start date: August 8, 2026 Percent contained: 26%

Personnel Assigned: 1,417 Cause: Under investigation

CURRENT SITUATION:

Overnight fire activity stayed minimal after a strong inversion settled around 2:00 a.m., slowing

spread across the fire. On the southwest side, Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) flights over Logwood

Creek found no significant heat and only limited backing fire. Crews improved control features

above Highway 1, with no flare-ups reported. In the northwest, the fire crossed the Ventana Creek

drainage overnight and is expected to move toward Manuel Peak. To the northeast, firefighters

advanced hand-line work along Pine Ridge Trail toward the Big Sur River. Along the coastal side of

the fire, firefighters continue to strengthen control lines for future holding operations.

Fire activity is expected to increase this today as drying and southwest winds support more active

movement in the Ventana Wilderness. Today’s main operational focus is on upslope fire activity

toward Manuel Peak in the northwest and in the southwest with continued backing fire toward Pick

Creek in the South Fork Big Sur drainage.

California Interagency Incident Management Team 3 has now assumed command of the Timber

Fire, taking over responsibility for all incident operations and planning.

WEATHER:

Warm, very dry conditions will persist, with conditions approaching red flag conditions, with

expected temperatures in upper 80s to low 90s and humidity in the single digits once the inversion

breaks near midday. Southwest winds will elevate fire-weather concerns through Thursday, along

with poor overnight humidity recovery and warm nighttime temperatures.

CLOSURES:

Los Padres National Forest has a closure order in effect for trails and roads in the fire area.

For the latest evacuation information, visit Ready Monterey County:

readymontereycounty.org/emergency

Scan the QR code for up-to-date Timber Fire Information: (Sorry, no QR Code. They don’t copy)

I find his much more enlightening than those given by the IMTs, who don’t have the local knowledge of y ears of hiking this country. I hope Keith doesn’t mind. He does publish these on facebook, but some of my readers are not on facebook, and don’t want to be.

Tuesday Morning (8/25). Latest perimeter mapping and heat detections suggest the northern end of the Timber Fire is slowly backing into the Carmel River watershed between Ventana Cone and the Ventana Double Cone.

To the northwest, it looks like it may have crossed Ventana Creek. If so, it may move rapidly upslope in this area and could soon enter the Little Sur watershed. This side of the fire is especially concerning because it may also move toward the Big Sur Valley and appears to be already close to the bottom of slopes that could rapidly conduct it to the top of Mt. Manuel.

On the east, the fire is now firmly established along Cienega Creek and the North Fork of the Big Sur River. Strong runs up the steep Redwood and Cienega Creek drainages (toward Pine Ridge and South Ventana Cone) remain possible.

In the south, the fire remains active along the South Fork Big Sur River and may now have reached the edge of Pick Valley. Firefighters are still prepping the Coast Ridge south of Partington to defend it against this part of the fire.

CURRENT SITUATION:  

Acres: 12,915   Containment: 26%   Resources Assigned:  1,417

On the northern portion of the fire around Island Mountain, the fire made moderate runs to the east and is backing toward Ventana Creek. This activity resulted in visible smoke throughout the day. Additionally, the fire continues to move up canyon in the Lion Creek drainage toward Ventana Cone.

Fire crews continued to strengthen and reinforce containment and contingency lines to the north and south of the fire. Dozers and hand crews were also able to strengthen control features to the northeast. On the coastal side of the fire, there was very little activity and containment lines are holding. 

WEATHER: The fire area experienced very warm and dry conditions today. The marine layer was compressed and smoke was again trapped below the inversion, which lifted around noon. Very hot and dry conditions are expected for the next several days, likely resulting in increased fire behavior and activity. 

CLOSURES: Los Padres National Forest has a closure order in effect for trails and roads in the fire area.

EVACUATION ORDERS: MRY-D082, MRY-D089, MRY-D090, MRY-D091, MRY-F015-C, MRY-F028-B, MRY-F029, MRY-F031-A 

EVACUATION WARNINGS: MRY-D078, MRY-D084, MRY-D085, MRY-D086, MRY-D088

MRY-F026, MRY-F027-A, MRY-F027-B, MRY-F028-A, MRY-F028-D, MRY-F015-B, MRY-F021-B, MRY-F022, MRY-F023, MRY-F024, MRY-F030-A, MRY-F030-B, MRY-F031-B, MRY-F032-A, MRY-F032-B, MRY-F025

Timber Fire Information

2026.Timber@firenet.gov

(831) 285-7006

Website: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calpf-timber-fire

lospadresnationalforest

MontereyCountySheriffsOffice

MontereyCoInfo  

linktr.ee/CAL_FIRE_BEU