Links for phone users who can’t see the links to the right without scrolling through two years of posts. I’ll start with just a few, but if you have others you wish to see here, let me know.
Interactive Highway Map with Mile Markers and slide names is to the right, under “Pages” first one *Big Sur Interactive Maps... if the following link doesn’t work. *Big Sur Interactive Slide Maps will answer any questions you may have about where something is in relation to something else.
The Plaskett Fire [sic] experienced significant growth during the last operational period and remained active overnight and throughout the day. Fire behavior included flanking, uphill runs, and isolated tree torching, with continued growth occurring around multiple portions of the incident.
The fire remains positioned for upslope movement in multiple directions through complex terrain. Steep slopes, heavy fuels, and difficult access continue to create significant challenges for suppression resources.
On the eastern and southern flanks, continued upslope movement is expected through the evening and overnight operational period. Fire activity is expected to continue impacting Los Burros Road and South Coast Road.
The Highway 1 corridor continues to be impacted by the fire. Structures and critical infrastructure along the corridor remain threatened, and crews have initiated firing operations around primary residences and critical infrastructure to improve defensible space.
On Willow Creek and Plaskett Ridge, the fire spread remains a concern down the Willow Creek drainage, with potential for the fire to move up and over Plaskett Ridge and back toward values at risk along Highway 1.
Along the northeast flank, fire progression up the North Fork of Willow Creek could threaten Prewitt Loop. Terrain alignment may support additional fire movement through the larger bowl and canyon systems near Los Burros Road and McKern Forest Road.
There is a full suppression strategy on this fire. Crews will continue direct and aggressive attack where conditions permit, while establishing and strengthening control lines in areas where terrain and fire behavior allow. Strategic firing, backfire, and burnout operations will continue as necessary to keep pace with the main fire, strengthen control features, and increase defensible space around threatened structures.
Fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft will continue supporting ground resources where appropriate, assisting with direct suppression and the establishment of contingency lines. Steep terrain and the remote location continue to limit access and suppression opportunities. Heavy fuel loading has allowed the fire to cross control features, while portions burning within the Dolan Fire scar contain significant dead and down material that is hampering suppression efforts.
Tonight winds are expected to shift back to the northeast, with gusts potentially reaching approximately 13 mph on the fire as a weak, dry front passes through the area. Cooler temperatures are expected to remain in place, with the marine layer forecast to deepen to approximately 2,000–2,500 feet. Relative humidity is expected to remain generally in the 20–30% range.
Suppression resources continue working toward keeping the fire west of South Coast Ridge Road, north of Los Burros Road, east of Highway 1, and south of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road.
Firefighter and public safety, structure defense along the Highway 1 corridor, holding and improving established control features, and limiting additional fire spread remain the primary operational priorities into tonight.
There are two shelters set up for the Timber and Plaskett Fires:
Carmel Mission Inn Conference Room, 3665 Rio Rd, Carmel, CA 93923
Cambria Veterans Memorial Building, 1000 Main St, Cambria
MCSO: Earlier this morning, smoke conditions remained present in the area of HWY 1 near Gorda for the Plaskett Fire
The Timber Fire remains active, with flanking, uphill runs, and isolated tree torching observed. Steep terrain and heavy fuel loading continue to create significant challenges for suppression efforts. Firefighters have kept pace with the fire’s downhill movement toward Highway 1 near Pfeiffer State Park. Continued fire spread is expected toward the Lucia Range, South Fork Trail, and northeast toward the Black Cone Trail.
Manuel Peak and the Pfeiffer State Park area are expected to remain primarily in a smoldering phase overnight following firing operations.
In the Ventana Cone area, fire will continue burning northeast where continuous fuels are available.
On the eastern edge, crews continue working to keep pace with fire movement toward the Black Cone Trail and Carmel River Trail. Along Coast Ridge Road, firefighters are working to maintain and strengthen control features as the fire progresses.
Fire growth continues to be primarily terrain- and fuel-driven, with potential movement into the Lion Creek, Ventana Creek, North Fork and South Fork Big Sur River, Redwood Creek, Cienega Creek, and upper Carmel River drainages. Potential impacts remain to Michaels Hill and Coast Ridge Road.
Crews will continue direct and aggressive attack where conditions allow, while establishing and improving containment lines where terrain and fire behavior permit. Firing, backfire, and burnout operations will continue as necessary to keep pace with the main fire, strengthen control features, and create defensible space around threatened structures.
Fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft will continue supporting ground resources with direct suppression and contingency-line construction where appropriate. Day and night firefighting operations will continue.
Highway 1 remains a significant operational concern. Recent firing operations have contributed to rockslides along the highway. When conditions are safe, Caltrans road engineers will assess, remove, or blast hazardous rocks before the roadway can safely reopen.
Tonight, winds are expected to shift northeast and gust into the teens, potentially reaching approximately 17 mph over the Timber Fire as a weak dry front moves through. Cooler temperatures are expected to persist, with the marine layer eventually deepening to approximately 2,000–2,500 feet; however, relative humidity is expected to remain generally in the 20–30% range.
Operational priorities remain protecting life and property, holding established control features, maintaining structure defense, and keeping the fire north of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, south of Carmel Valley Road, east of Highway 1, and west of Millers Ranch.
There are two shelters set up for the Timber and Plaskett Fires:
Carmel Mission Inn Conference Room, 3665 Rio Rd, Carmel, CA 93923
Cambria Veterans Memorial Building, 1000 Main St, Cambria
Firefighting operations are intensifying as additional personnel and equipment integrate into the incident, expanding overall operational capacity. The fire remains active near Highway 1 in the Jade Cove area, with crews working aggressively to protect structures, critical infrastructure, and stop further spread.
On the eastern flank near South Coast Road, firefighters are securing control lines and prioritizing patrol of a two-acre slopover.
South of Willow Creek, crews are assessing options to strengthen existing barrier features to check fire progression. Warmer, drier daytime conditions and afternoon winds are elevating fire behavior in exposed fuels, prompting crews to closely monitor high-risk areas. Firefighters are also preparing for an overnight shift in wind direction toward the northeast, adjusting tactics as terrain, dry fuels, and shifting weather demand.
Protecting homes and infrastructure remains a top priority, particularly along the western section of Plaskett Ridge Road toward Highway 1. Resources are actively clearing defensible space, prepping structures, and pre-positioning fire engines to respond to changing fire lines. Extensive structure protection continues along Los Burros Road. On the southern front, firefighters are extending hose lays, strengthening primary lines, and conducting tactical firing operations to burn out fuels between the main fire and nearby homes. Crews are utilizing natural ridgelines, roads, hand lines, and bulldozer paths, while evaluating options for a secondary contingency line east of South Coast Road. Ground teams are actively cooling hotspots along established boundaries to prevent spot fires or further slopovers.
Helicopters and air tankers continue targeted water drops to slow fire advancement, reduce flame intensity around structures, and support ground crews navigating steep and rugged terrain. Highway 1 remains fully closed from Mile Marker 10.1 near Gorda to Mile Marker 56 near Big Sur due to active fire operations, falling rock, and fire-weakened trees.
The U.S. Forest Service, Monterey County emergency agencies, and CAL FIRE are closely coordinating all suppression and emergency response efforts. Residents and visitors must remain vigilant, obey all evacuation orders and warnings, avoid travel in operational zones, and monitor official agency channels for real-time safety updates.
Evacuation Orders have been issued for Zone: MRY-G012-A.
Evacuation Warnings have been issued for Zone: MRY-G011-A & MRY-G012-B.
The southern Highway 1 closure has been moved to mile marker 2.1, just south of Salmon Creek. This closure location is aligned with the southern border of Evacuation Zone MRY-F037, which is now in Evacuation Order. The northern closure remains the same at south of Little Sur River at mile marker 56.
Firefighters are actively working to gain safe access to the Higuerra Creek area after the Timber Fire slopped over established containment lines into challenging terrain. Along Highway 1, strategic firing operations are now complete, and ground crews remain on scene patrolling, mop-up operations, extinguishing internal hotspots, and fortifying control lines. Pockets of unburned vegetation will continue to burn well inside the perimeter, producing visible smoke that firefighters are actively monitoring to protect against potential line breaks.
Air operations, including helicopters and water drops, will continue supporting ground crews as visibility and operational needs dictate. Highway 1 remains closed due to severe ongoing hazards such as falling rocks, rolling debris, and fire-weakened trees, with road condition assessments continuously underway to safeguard the public and responding crews.
To ensure suppression actions cause minimal long-term impact to the environment and surrounding communities, Incident Command leadership is working directly with local Resource Advisors (READs) to integrate local geographic and environmental knowledge into the daily Incident Action Plan (IAP). Resource Advisors are actively mapping and flagging sensitive locations—including local archaeological and cultural sites, rare native flora, waterways, and wildlife habitats—so heavy equipment operators, hand crews, and dozer teams can navigate around these areas. By coordinating directly with crews on the ground, these local experts are ensuring tactical operations balance swift fire suppression with rigorous environmental protections, including precautions to safeguard local water sources from fuel and retardant runoff.
Plaskett Fire — Effective immediately, The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is issuing an Evacuation Order for Evacuation Zone MRY-F037. Map: AlertMRY.org/map
An Evacuation Order means you should leave the area now due to an immediate threat to life and property. Follow directions of public safety officials. Monitor official channels for updates.
⛔️Outsiders: Don’t even think of going to Los Padres.⛔️
The Los Padres National Forest has issued Forest Order 05-07-51-26-10, effective August 29, 2026, establishing an emergency closure for the Monterey Ranger District to protect public safety during the Timber and Plaskett Fires.
This order replaces Order 05-07-51-26-08 and remains active until the fires are officially declared out.
Closed Areas: All National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the Monterey Ranger District Emergency Closure Area are off-limits to the public.
Exceptions: Pfeiffer Beach and Sycamore Canyon Road remain open.
Exemptions: Authorized personnel on official duty (emergency responders, agency officers), private land owners/residents needing access (provided no active evacuation order is in effect), and individuals holding specific Forest Service permits (FS-7700-48).
Penalties: Violations carry fines of up to $5,000 for individuals ($10,000 for organizations), up to six months imprisonment, or both.
Last night was wild. Got about 2 hrs of sleep from 6:30 to 8:30, once the flames around the property subsided. Calfire operated a burn from Plaskett ridge road above our water tanks down to the highway and kept it to the south side of our house and Merritts. As far as I’ve heard, no structures lost last night except for a basic platform deck on our property above my house. Here’s some photos.
Saturday (8/29/26) Morning Update: Other than around Mt. Manuel, the Timber Fire has been pretty quiet over the past 24 hours. But quiet does not mean out. The fire continues to slowly smolder or burn along most of its backcountry perimeter.
Around Mt. Manuel, firefighters began burning along the Cabezo Prieto Ridge toward Post Summit and down Hopkins Ridge toward Highway One. This is intended to halt the further progression of the fire into the Big Sur Valley. Watch Duty reports that the fire in this area “pushed south and breached control features in multiple areas…” I interpret this as meaning that the fire may have gotten across the hand lines protecting the developed portions of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. There are quite a few heat detections showing in developed park areas. Hopefully, that slop over has now been extinguished.
The Plaskett Fire remained active during the day yesterday, finally cooling off some last night. While active, it spread further into the Prewitt Creek drainage, back to the Coast Ridge in the Willow Creek drainage and down to the Highway, just north of Willow Creek. Structure protection remains the top priority.
The Plaskett Fire experienced slight progression overnight, continuing to back downslope toward Highway 1 south of Plaskett Road. Fire activity moderated during the overnight period under improved humidity recovery and increased marine influence. Crews remain actively engaged along this portion of the incident, monitoring fire movement and reinforcing control features as conditions allow.
On the upper portion of the incident, fire activity continues to influence areas toward South Coast Ridge Road. Dozers and ground resources are extending, improving, and strengthening approximately seven miles of containment line associated with the South Coast Ridge Road system. These control features continue to hold, and crews will focus today on increasing line depth, improving access, and securing areas where fire activity could challenge established containment features.
Structure defense remains a primary operational priority. Resources continue evaluating threatened areas, preparing structures, and positioning personnel and equipment where changing fire conditions could increase structure exposure. Aviation resources will support ground operations with water drops as visibility and weather conditions allow, focusing on slowing fire progression and reducing fire intensity near structures and critical control features.
Additional personnel and equipment are expected to arrive on the incident today, increasing operational capacity and allowing resources to expand suppression, structure-defense, and contingency operations.
The Timber fire is has been mapped at 24,408 acres and has 21% containment.
Firefighters are maintaining active suppression operations across the entire incident by focusing on structure protection, fortifying primary control lines, and preparing secondary contingency options. Along the Manuel Peak and Highway 1 corridor, where the fire has pushed south and breached control features in multiple areas, engine strike teams, hand crews, and Hotshots are conducting coordinated strategic firing operations to protect nearby structures. These ground efforts are reinforced by unmanned aircraft systems, aviation assets, and retardant drops applied directly to dozer lines along the ridge above the highway. Ground personnel continue to cut direct handline wherever terrain permits, using both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft to support these critical holding operations.
Across the northern sector of the fire, crews and heavy equipment are connecting and improving a network of dozer lines, handlines, roads, and ridgelines to build robust primary control features. Near Botchers Gap, dozers are pushing east toward the Los Padres Reservoir while strengthening the Big Pine Ridge system. Moving further east toward Arroyo Seco, crews are engaged in a long-term operation to prepare the surrounding ridge system as a main barrier, which involves extensive line clearing, improving access routes, and establishing structure-defense plans. Meanwhile, south of Arroyo Seco, resources are clearing the Indians–Arroyo Seco Road to bolster both primary lines and backup options.
In the southern portion of the incident, crews and dozers are actively clearing existing control lines while preparing the Coast Ridge Road corridor and adjacent ridges to act as secondary holding features if the fire moves south. Air operations are being guided by two dedicated Air Attack platforms, supported by a mix of Type 1 and Type 2 helicopters as well as day-and-night drone operations, though fixed-wing air tankers remain limited by high national demand and are strictly deployed for high-priority ground operations. Recent smoke and cloud cover prevented overnight infrared mapping flights, meaning the current fire perimeter maps do not capture recent expansion and will remain unupdated until conditions clear. Ultimately, all firefighters remain committed to their core strategic objective of containing the blaze north of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, south of Carmel Valley Road, east of Highway 1, and west of Millers Ranch.
