Plaskett Fire Expands Near Big Sur, Prompting Evacuations and Highway Closures
The Plaskett wildfire in Monterey County grew to nearly 6,000 acres, triggering multiple evacuation orders, a 40-mile closure of Highway 1, and the deployment of about 500 firefighters.
A fast-moving wildfire near Big Sur, identified as the Plaskett Fire, burned roughly 5,900 acres by Saturday morning, prompting evacuation orders for four zones and warnings for three additional zones in Monterey County. The blaze, which started on Forest Road 23S10 east of Los Burros Road, had covered only 140 acres on Thursday before expanding rapidly.
Cal Fire reported that the fire continued to move downhill toward Highway 1 south of Plaskett Road overnight, though activity moderated due to higher humidity and marine influence. Crews are reinforcing control lines and extending containment efforts along South Coast Ridge Road, aiming to deepen lines and improve access.
"The Plaskett Fire experienced slight progression overnight, continuing to back downslope toward Highway 1 south of Plaskett Road," the agency said.
"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," Cal Fire added.
Nearly 500 personnel, including 36 engines, six helicopters and multiple air tankers, are engaged in suppression and structure-defense operations. A roughly 40-mile segment of Highway 1 has been closed, and local businesses have shut down.
The Plaskett Fire follows the larger Timber Fire, which has burned more than 24,000 acres and continues to threaten the Big Sur region. Combined, the two fires have affected over 30,000 acres.