From USFS:

Timber Fire

Publication Type: News – 08/30/2026 – 19:00

Timber Fire

Crews had another strong work day on the Timber Fire. Crews worked on a spot fire near Post Summit along the northwest corner of the fire and were able to secure it with handline.  

Firefighters and heavy equipment continued improving existing containment lines from Botchers Gap and Kincannon Road to Los Padres Dam and along the Coast Ridge Road while Hotshot crews remain engaged in remote portions of the Ventana Wilderness where access is limited.

Firing operations that have been completed around Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park held through the day, with crews continuing mop-up along Highway 1. Falling rocks from steep terrain above the road continue to present a significant hazard.

Portions of Big Sur remain under evacuation orders, warnings, and shelter-in-place orders.

 Hotshots working above the water treatment plant were able to put check lines in where dozers can’t operate to further ensure containment on the northernmost corner of the fire along Highway 1. Handcrews  continue to connect the dots in places where containment lines have been opened and improved by dozers and where the terrain is too steep 

WEATHER: For the Timber fire, winds will continue to be from the west which will keep humidity values elevated, especially for elevations below 2000 feet near Big Sur Village. Interior areas above 2000 feet will finally see some RH relief with values creeping higher than previous days. While general winds will remain onshore with ridgetop gusts to 15 mph, the winds on the lower slopes will remain terrain driven and light under 8 mph. Skies will remain sunny inland with coastal clouds this morning along the immediate coast.

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

https://roads.dot.ca.gov/?roadnumber=1 or https://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’s Department 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. 

For current highway and evacuation information, visit Ready Monterey County: 

http://alertmry.org/alerts or   http://alertmry.org/map

From CAL FIRE BEU:

Firefighters and heavy equipment continued improving existing Timber Fire containment lines from Bottchers Gap and Kincannon Road to Los Padres Dam and along Coast Ridge Road. Hotshot crews remain engaged in remote portions of the Ventana Wilderness where access is limited. Firing operations completed around Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park held through the day, with crews continuing mop-up along Highway 1. Falling rocks from steep terrain above Highway 1 continue to present a significant hazards.

In doubled in size from yesterday to today. This is from BEU and USFS on Facebook this evening:

#PlaskettFire Update

The Plaskett Fire has been recently mapped at 15,478 acres and remains 1% contained.

The fire remains active, with fire backing down toward Highway 1. Firefighters continue to prioritize structure protection as a large surge of additional resources arrives on-scene.

The fire has gained the most acreage on the eastern side, burning toward Fort Hunter Liggett, and to the south, where crews are actively engaged in structure defense along Los Burros Road. Night-flying helicopters are supporting continued structure protection overnight.

Crews not assigned to structure protection are opening containment line along Prewitt Ridge and South Coast Ridge Road. With no fire history in some areas for more than 50 years, heavy vegetation is contributing to active fire behavior.

Cooler temperatures and higher humidity are expected over the next several days. Firefighters will take advantage of favorable conditions to look for every opportunity to use direct containment tactics.

Fire information: (831) 285-7006

Fire email: 2026.timber@firenet.gov
Website: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calpf-timber-fire

Timber Fire:

Location: Southeast of Loma Vista, Monterey County	Size:  24,839 acres
Start date: August 28, 2026	Percent contained: 21%
Personnel Assigned:2,192 Firefighters	Cause: Under investigation

Plaskett Fire:

Location: East of Plaskett, Monterey County	Size:  8,241 acres
Start date: August 26, 2026	Percent contained: 1%
Personnel Assigned: 661 Firefighters	Cause: Under investigation

Timber Fire:

The Timber Fire showed some activity on its southeast corner near Partington Ridge as winds picked up overnight. However, night crews along the highway were able to quickly extinguish and mop up hot spots, and overall the highway edge and the road into Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park looked good and cold.

Assignments today will continue as they have for the last few days, with heavy equipment opening roads and containment lines from previous fires and hotshot crews accessing and opening areas that the dozers are unable to reach. Hotshots are being supported in remote areas by helicopter, including by line medics, who have been flown out to ensure that any injuries on the line receive quick care.

Plaskett fire:

The Plaskett Fire was active all night, and firefighters remained in engaged in structure defense along the Los Burros road overnight, supported by night flying aircraft. Rocks rolling onto Highway 1 remains a concern.

Fire crews near Sand Dollar and Plaskett creek executed tactical firing operations overnight as the fire backed toward structures and residences. Firefighters maintained the perimeter near Plaskett Creek, while northern teams opened existing road systems and installed hose lines. On the eastern front, the fire reached the length of the primary dozer line, crossing South Coast Road and resulting in several slop-overs into Fort Hunter Liggett. Ground teams, supported by multiple fuel cycles from night flying helicopters, engaged these slop-overs and conducted defensive firing near Los Burros Road to protect threatened homes and structures. Additionally, crews identified a new 100-foot by 100-foot spot fire across Buckeye Road in the Willow Creek drainage.

Priorities for fire operations during the day are the protection of residential areas along the Los Burros ridge and toward Alder Creek. Crews will work to contain the small spot fire while scouting terrain further east of the ridge roads to establish new secondary fuel breaks. Operations will also continue to monitor fire spread backing toward Highway 1 to improve protection for coastal structures.

Today, a large resource surge will continue, with firefighters reporting to logistical bases established to support both fires at Haystack, Big Sur, and at Plaskett.  A Mobile Retardant Base is being established on the east side of the fire to assist with aerial support on the fire’s east side.

WEATHER: No major day over day changes forecast with mostly sunny skies. Smoke shading will be more prevalent on the Plaskett fire. Temperatures running near or a few degrees below normal, mainly in the mid 70s to mid 80s. Humidity readings will trend more seasonable with afternoon minimums 18-28%. General winds from the Northwest 5-10 mph with afternoon ridgetop gusts to 15 mph. Most of the winds over the fire will be diurnally driven and light under 8 mph. The marine layer depth should be around 2000 feet and confined to the immediate coastline after mixing out by 1000 hours.

ROAD CLOSURES AND EVACUATIONS: 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/

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. 

For current highway and evacuation information, visit Ready Monterey County:

http://alertmry.org/alerts or   http://alertmry.org/map

Timber and Plaskett Fire Information

2026.Timber@firenet.gov

(831) 285-7006

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

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