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.