Big Sur wildfire forces evacuations of popular sites as blaze spreads over 1,700 acres

A wildfire that ignited Sunday morning in the Los Padres National Forest southeast of Loma Vista has scorched over 1,700 acres in Big Sur, prompting evacuation orders that include well-known destinations such as Nepenthe restaurant, the Henry Miller Memorial Library and the Alila Ventana resort. Cal Fire reported that the fire grew from about 400 acres on Sunday to more than four times that size by Monday afternoon.

"Firefighters on the ground are experiencing some extremely steep and rugged terrain mixed with hot, dry temperatures and winds that are pretty variable," Cal Fire Battalion Chief Josh Silveira said. He added that the winds are "switching directions pretty regularly, so it’s definitely giving us challenges in getting the upper hand on this type of fire."

Evacuation orders were expanded Monday as the blaze advanced, and an emergency shelter was opened at Carmel Middle School. Regional hotels are offering discounted rates to displaced visitors. The Pacific Coast Highway has been closed to non-residents between Point Sur Lighthouse and Vista Point.

"The fire remains highly active, and conditions can change rapidly," the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office warned, urging the public to stay out of the area and keep roadways clear for responders.

Cal Fire assumed command of the incident from the U.S. Forest Service on Monday afternoon and deployed about 300 firefighters, a number expected to double. More than a dozen aerial assets, including helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, are conducting retardant and water drops. By Monday evening the fire was 5% contained, with containment lines focused on the western edge near the highway. The blaze is currently moving uphill on the eastern flank toward campgrounds and scattered homes, while not yet threatening the coastal businesses.