Good evening 🙂

With the good news of the road opening tomorrow – most of the day will be making multiple trips to clear out the Monterey Post Office and re-organize the Big Sur Post Office. 

We’ll deliver all that we can tomorrow but we won’t have a normal day of retail services and full delivery until Friday. 

*Full Delivery as in as far south as law enforcement will allow the mailman to go on any given day. It sounds like currently we can get as far south as somewhere in Pacific Valley.

2026 Plaskett Fire

Incident Update

Los Padres National Forest

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Fire Information:805-257-9891

Email:2026.Plaskett@firenet.gov

Linktree: Plaskett Fire Linktree         

Total Acres: 28,968 | 1% contained

Total Personnel: 1,550

For more information on the Plaskett Fire, visit: Plaskett Fire Inciweb

Current Situation:

The Plaskett Fire is currently 28,968 acres and 1% contained, burning east of Plaskett in southern Monterey County on the Los Padres National Forest.  California Interagency Incident Management Team 7 assumed command of the Plaskett Fire at 7:00 a.m. on September 1, with Incident Commander Tom Clemo leading the response. The team is working closely with the Los Padres National Forest, cooperating agencies, and firefighters on the ground to build on the progress already made while maintaining a strong focus on firefighter and public safety and full suppression of the fire.

Firefighters made good progress during last night’s shift across much of the fire perimeter. Existing lines are holding in several areas, allowing crews to shift toward a more direct suppression strategy wherever terrain and conditions allow. The eastern portion of the fire remains the primary area of concern. This area has not experienced significant fire in more than 50 years, creating challenging conditions for firefighters. Firefighters will continue evaluating opportunities to safely access this area and construct viable containment lines to reduce the potential for additional fire spread.

Today, firefighters will continue working to build on yesterday’s progress, with resources concentrated in areas offering the best opportunities for direct containment. Crews will also maintain structure protection and reinforce contingency lines should conditions change. Highway 1 remains closed through the affected area, and evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect in portions of Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties.

Timber Fire Information: For Information on the Timber Fire, please visit:

Timber FIre Inciweb

Los Padres National Forest Facebook Page

Weather & Air Quality:

Below normal temperatures and elevated humidity are expected to create favorable conditions for firefighters, supporting ongoing suppression strategies and aiding containment efforts.

Evacuations:

Monterey County – Evacuation Orders (Leave Now):
Zones: MRY‑F034, MRY‑F035, MRY‑F036, MRY‑F037, MRY‑F308, MRY‑G012‑A, MRY‑G016

Monterey County – Evacuation Warnings (Prepare to Go):
Zones: MRY‑F033, MRY‑G011‑A, MRY‑G012‑B, MRY‑G015

San Luis Obispo County – Evacuation Warnings:
Zones: SLC‑001, SLC‑002, SLC‑003

Road Closures

Highway 1 is closed from mile marker 56 (south of Little Sur River) to the Monterey/San Luis Obispo County line.  No estimated reopening time.

Evacuation Shelters

Carmel: Carmel Mission Inn Conference Room, 3665 Rio Road, Carmel, CA 93923

Cambria: Cambria Veterans Memorial Building, 1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428

*Everyone in areas of active fires should “Know Your Zone.” Go to Genasys Protect to identify the zone you reside in.

Effective Wednesday, September 2, at 7:00 PM, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office plans to downgrade several evacuation orders to warnings and conclude the shelter-in-place directives previously issued on August 27, 2026, in response to the Timber Fire. The northern closure of Highway 1 (MM 56.0 to MM 45.0) is anticipated to be lifted at 7:00 PM.

The following zone changes are anticipated to take effect at 7:00 PM today: 
Changed to Evacuation Warnings 
• MRY-F016 
• MRY-F017 
• MRY-F018 
• MRY-F019 
• MRY-F021-A 
• MRY-F021-B 
• MRY-F022 
• MRY-F023-A 
• MRY-F024 
• MRY-F026 
• MRY-F027-A 

All orders, warnings, and closures are subject to immediate change based on real-time fire behavior.

Evacuation Map Link: 
alertmry.org/map

Wednesday (09/02/2026) Update: The perimeter of the Timber Fire has continued to cool over the past 48 hours and the footprint has not expanded. This is a very long, uncontained perimeter where hotspots capable of rekindling undoubtedly exist – but, as of now, it’s looking good.

The Plaskett Fire has also cooled off quite a bit. On the east, it crossed the Nacimiento River in Ft. Hunter Liggett, but this only brought it into grassland and oak savanna, where firefighting is much easier than in the mountains.

There is still a lot of heat in areas where burn operations have been ongoing, but this heat remains mainly within containment lines.

Plaskett, CA Wildfire Overview  - 			02	September	2026									
								c.	0600 UTC						
Weather Conditions -  															
The vicinity of the fire was cloud free.															
															
Details -															
The interpreters were able to designate the fire perimeter and isolated fires with no difficulty.															
Moderate-sized areas of perimeter growth and intense fire were detected at the southwestern corner of the fire.
Additional small areas of perimeter growth were detected along the northern and southeastern edges of the fire.															
Large areas of intense fire were detected along the northwestern, southwestern, and southeastern edges of the fire.															
Very large areas of scattered fire filled much of the perimeter.															
Isolated fires were generally within fairly close proximity to the main perimeters.															
															
Acreage -															
Starting Perimeter Source -				Incident/NIFC											
Starting Perimeter Date/Time -			02	September	2026		0231	UTC						
															
Estimated Acreage: 29,338															
Acreage Change (if any): +416

Timber, CA Wildfire Overview  - 			02	September	2026									
								c.	0845 UTC						
Weather Conditions -  															
The vicinity of the fire was cloud free.															
															
Details -															
The interpreters were able to designate the fire perimeter and isolated fires with no difficulty.															
Very small areas of creeping growth were noted along the northern edge of the perimeter.															
A very small areas of intense fire was detected along the north-central portion of the perimeter.															
Moderate-aized areas of scattered fire were detected within the western, eastern, and southern portions of the perimeter.															
Isolated fires were generally within fairly close proximity to the main perimeters.															
A moderate number of isolated fires were detected within the perimeter, mainly in the northern section.															
															
Acreage -															
Starting Perimeter Source -				Incident/NIFC											
Starting Perimeter Date/Time -			01	September	2026		2229	UTC						
															
Estimated Acreage: 25,214															
Acreage Change (if any): +N/A    (If there has been no increase since the previous perimeter, enter N/A)

The Plaskett Fire is currently mapped at 28,968 acres and 1% contained. Fire behavior moderated overnight following significant growth during previous operational periods. The eastern portion of the incident remains a primary operational concern as the fire continues burning toward and into Fort Hunter Liggett.

Steep terrain and heavy fuels continue to influence fire behavior and limit direct access for firefighters. Crews are focused on strengthening control lines and securing the western portion of the incident while continuing to monitor fire activity across the perimeter.

Cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity are expected to help moderate fire behavior and support suppression operations.

Update from CAL FIRE

The Timber Fire, burning on the Los Padres National Forest, is currently mapped at 25,223 acres and 22% contained. Fire behavior remained moderated during the previous operational period, resulting in minimal additional growth.

Crews continue strengthening established control lines and actively mopping up along the Highway 1 corridor. Suppression repair operations are also continuing south from Pfeiffer Camp. Throughout the incident, firefighters and heavy equipment operators are working to connect and reinforce completed dozer and control lines to reduce the potential for additional inland fire spread.

Cooler temperatures and improved overnight humidity recovery continue to provide favorable conditions for suppression efforts.

Update from CAL FIRE

Plaskett, CA Wildfire Overview  - 			01	September	2026									
								c.	0545 UTC						
Weather Conditions -  															
Heavy cloud and haze cover was present across the entire fire.															
															
Details -															
Heavy clouds and haze were present over the entire fire. The entire perimeter is indicated as estimated.															
Weather conditions had a severe effect upon analysis.
No data was received for the extreme southern end of the fire. The perimeter in that area is indicated as estimated.															
Large areas of perimeter growth with intense and scattered fire were detected at the northwestern, northeastern, and southwestern corners of the fire.															
Large areas of intense fire were detected along the northwestern, northeastern, and southwestern edges of the fire.															
Very large areas of scattered fire were detected throughout much of the perimeter.															
Isolated fires were generally within fairly close proximity to the main perimeters.															
															
Acreage -															
Starting Perimeter Source -				Incident/NIFC											
Starting Perimeter Date/Time -			31	August	2026		0200	UTC						
															
Estimated Acreage: 26,887															
Acreage Change (if any): +11,409

Today's Operation Map with IR overlay:

Timber Fire, CA Wildfire Overview		01 September 2026

Weather Conditions:
The vicinity of the fire was completely cloud covered.

Details
No Data Was Received for this wildfire. No products were produced or provided.

Message from your Fire Chief regarding the Timber and Plaskett Fires:

This has been an incredible few weeks for all of us.  I am so impressed with all of you and our community.  You have been inquisitive, patient and resilient and you will need to be for quite a while longer.  The Timber Fire had minimal growth over the last few days aided by an early season cold front that even holds the possibility of precipitation.  The primary containment lines are still being dialed in and it will take many days if not weeks for the fire to reach them.  Crews are going direct where they can to extinguish and mop-up the fire.  Some areas are just too steep and rugged to safely access, as you know, and it is a patience game for either season ending rain or the fire to reach the line.

The Plaskett fire on the other hand has been dynamic and has seen several significant days of growth.  The acreage in fact has now surpassed the Timber Fire.  Due to the size and complexity of both incidents, a second incident management team has been mobilized and assumed command of the Plaskett Fire this morning (CA-CIIMT7).  Our Big Sur Fire resources (2 engines and a water tender) are currently assigned to the Plaskett Fire sharing their local knowledge and helping lead our mutual aid partners into the enclaves of Plaskett Ridge Road, Los Burros Road, Gorda Mountain Road and others to protect structures and extinguish the fire.

As both incidents progress, the incident management teams and I are in constant communication with all agencies involved such as Monterey County Sherriff, CHP, CalTrans, Dept. of Emergency Management, and many more.  We are continually evaluating the situation and looking for opportunities to return life to normal, including reopening the highway.  Right now, things are on track for reopening the northern closure in the Timber Fire area based on the timeline established last week.  There is no timeline for the southern closure.  More information will be provided very soon if/when anything changes.

There is another community meeting tomorrow at 6:00pm at the Mid-Coast Firehouse on Palo Colorado Rd. for those outside the closure area.  Please keep checking our website bigsurfire.org, inciweb, and other apps like Watch Duty or Wildfire Intel for more information.  Thank you for the outpouring of support with food, drinks and other supplies for the firefighters who are all so grateful.  This is going to be an even longer haul than originally thought and we will need your continued and increased support to get through it.

Respectfully,

Matt Harris

Fire Chief

Good Morning:  This will be the last combined Timber and Plaskett Fires Update.  Beginning this evening California Interagency Incident Management Team 7 will be sending out information regarding the Plaskett Fire.

Timber Fire: 25,190 Acres, 22% contained and 2,016 firefighters assigned.

Firefighters on the Timber Fire were aided by overnight humidity recovery near 90% which helped keep fire behavior moderated.

Night crews focused on mop up and active patrol along the Highway 1 corridor, specifically working to extinguish any lingering heat that could threaten the road or structures in the Camp Pfiefer area. To the east, humidity remained as low as 5% at elevations around Chews Ridge and highlights the potential for continued fire spread as conditions allow.

With that potential in mind, firefighters along the northwest corner of the perimeter are focusing on building containment around a slopover from several days ago near Manuel Peak.

Along the northern and eastern edges of the fire, handcrews and heavy equipment are being utilized to connect pieces of completed dozer line from Bixby Mopuntain to Skinner Ridge, east toward Haystack and from Chews Ridge east then south toward Arroyo Seco.

WEATHER: An early season trough of low pressure will bring unseasonably cool temperatures and higher humidity airmass over the Timber and Plaskett Fire tomorrow. This will be one of the coolest days since the fire started with highs mainly in the 60s and struggling to warm into the 70s, even for interior portions of the fire. General winds will continue to be onshore and from the West with gusts to around 15 mph for the exposed ridges along the Coast Ridge Trail. Lower elevations below 2000 feet will continue to see good humidity values that will help with mop-up operations. The air aloft should be cool enough to erode the marine inversion layer with cooler temperatures for the highest elevations above 3000 feet. Skies will be partly cloudy tonight as a weak frontal boundary passes through. The front may generate some very light showers or drizzle overnight into Wednesday morning, especially around Big Sur and the Pfeiffer Camp but amounts would be a few hundredths at most.

ROAD CLOSURES: A hard road closure is in effect on State Route 1: For updates, visit:

https://roads.dot.ca.gov/?roadnumber=1 orhttps://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/

EVACUATIONS:

Monterey County has issued evacuation warnings and orders.  View the Interactive Evacuation Page For current information and to sign up for alerts visit Monterey County’sDepartment of Emergency Management website.  

San Luis Obispo County has issued Evacuation Warnings for areas affected by the Plaskett Fire – Visit https://www.readyslo.org/emergency/current-protective-actions/ for additional information.

REVISED FOREST CLOSURE ORDER: The Los Padres National Forest has issued an Area Closure for Forest Service managed lands surrounding the Timber and Plaskett Fires.  Full text of the Closure Order, and Closure Order Map. 

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