'Measured in weeks, not days': Plaskett and Timber fires near Big Sur scorch 33,000 acres
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Set us as preferred Crews on Sunday continued to battle two wildfires in Monterey County near Big Sur that have collectively burned more than 33,000 acres and forced more than 600 people to evacuate.The Plaskett fire near Fort Hunter Liggett has spread down to Highway 1 and remains “pretty active” on all sides, according to Lee Beyer, spokesman with the U.S.Forest Service.
That includes the southern perimeter near Los Burros Road where it is threatening homes and structures.The fire was 8,241 acres as of Sunday morning — up from about 6,000 acres Saturday morning — with only 1% contained.
LiveMore than 600 firefighters are tackling the blaze from the air and ground, working in “incredibly steep and difficult terrain,” Beyer said.Portions of the area have not burned since the 1970s, “so it’s about a 55-year-old fuel bed, and that’s much more difficult to contain because it’s a lot heavier, a lot thicker, a lot more dead components to the fuel.” Road closures are in effect on Highway 1 between Little Sur River and Salmon Creek, as are areas of the Los Padres National Forest near the fire.
California The Plaskett fire, which ignited Tuesday in a remote area about 30 miles down the coast from where the Timber fire started, exploded overnight Friday.It grew to more than 8,000 acres Saturday.It‘s one of two stubborn blazes burning in Monterey County.
The Timber fire, which ignited Aug.8 about 30 miles north of the Plaskett fire, was 21% contained as of Sunday morning.
Crews were not able to fly over the fire for several days due to smoke and visibility concerns, but were able to map it Saturday at 24,839 acres, Beyer said.The fire remains active in all directions — primarily within the Ventana Wilderness which is also incredibly remote and rugged terrain.
“In the earliest days of the Timber fire, it ...