Wildfire forces evacuations of major Big Sur attractions
The Timber fire in Monterey County has burned about 2,000 acres, prompting evacuations of popular sites along the Big Sur coast and the closure of part of Highway 1.
A wildfire known as the Timber fire, which ignited on Sunday in Monterey County, has spread to roughly 2,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest, according to Cal Fire. Nearly 500 firefighters are assigned to the incident, and containment efforts have secured about 5% of the blaze.
Authorities ordered evacuations for several well-known locations along the Big Sur coastline, including the Nepenthe restaurant, the Henry Miller Memorial Library, the Alila Ventana resort and nearby state parks. A section of the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) was closed to non-residents, and officials urged visitors to stay away from the area.
Fire crews are constructing containment lines along the highway corridor and deploying ground teams to reach difficult terrain. The fire is advancing slowly, primarily consuming grass, brush and oak woodland, and has not yet entered the forest canopy. Officials said the priority is to protect homes and prevent the fire from crossing the highway.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and it is threatening 259 structures. The incident coincides with a broader pattern of wildfires across the western United States, including large blazes in British Columbia, Nevada, Washington and Oregon.