Big Sur Fire Explodes to 8,200 Acres
Big Sur Fire Explodes to 8,200 Acres
The News
The Plaskett Fire blew up to more than 8,200 acres along California's Big Sur coast by early Saturday evening and was still 0% contained, with crews fighting to keep flames away from homes in Monterey County.
A second blaze, the Timber Fire, is burning nearby. Officials issued new evacuation orders Saturday as both fires pushed north.
Timeline
The Plaskett Fire erupts in steep terrain in Monterey County along Highway 1, according to the Associated Press.
Officials briefly close a portion of the scenic coastal route as firefighters scramble to stop the flames from running through canyons.
The fire doubles in size overnight, burning more than 5,900 acres and remaining uncontained, Cal Fire told The Guardian.
The blaze passes 8,200 acres and is still 0% contained as it looms over homes in Big Sur, the New York Post reported.
Reactions
Fire officials told the San Francisco Chronicle that warm, dry daytime conditions and afternoon winds drove the burning higher, pushing both the Timber and Plaskett fires north and prompting new evacuation orders.
What's Next
Containment stands at zero, so the immediate questions are how far north the fires run and whether Highway 1 — the only through road on that stretch of coast — closes again. Evacuation zones can expand with the afternoon winds, and residents under orders should expect updates from Cal Fire and Monterey County officials.
More
Big Sur's terrain is the problem. The fire started in steep ground where crews cannot easily get engines in, and the canyons that make the coast famous also act as chimneys for flame. The stretch of Highway 1 running through it is a major tourist route and, for people living along it, often the only way out.
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