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CAL FIRE: Timber Fire in Big Sur draws nearly 1,000 personnel, Highway 1 closed for response
Summary
CAL FIRE says nearly 1,000 personnel are assigned to the Timber Fire in Big Sur; crews have dropped over 100,000 gallons of retardant and Highway 1 is closed on a roughly 10‑mile stretch to support operations. A shelter is open in Carmel and a community relief fund is accepting donations.
Battalion Chief Josh Silvera of CAL FIRE said the Timber Fire in Big Sur has been "challenging as most of the fires are here in, in Big Sur," and that crews are working along drainages to contain rolling material.
"Last time we did a resource reconciliation, there's currently, just under 1000 firefighters assigned to this incident," Silvera said, adding that engines, dozers, hand crews and aerial firefighters are all committed. He also said responders have dropped "over a 100,000 gallons of retardant" on the fire so far. County communications director Nick Pascoli told listeners the county closed about a 10‑mile stretch of Highway 1 the previous night to allow emergency equipment to move in and out safely.
Silvera described the operational picture as "very dynamic," noting cooler, slightly more humid weather has helped but that steep topography remains a limiting factor for suppression efforts. He said Incident Management Team 1 is preparing to take over the incident with direction from the U.S. Forest Service and that crews from across the state are assigned or en route.
Pascoli urged residents to rely on official sources for updates — the CAL FIRE incident page and the Monterey County Department of Emergency Management site — and announced that Carmel Middle School is set up as an overnight shelter for people inside the evacuation order area, with a daytime evacuation/referral point for information. Pascoli also said the Community Foundation for Monterey County has opened a fire relief fund to accept donations for affected residents.
The county said it may hold a special follow‑up briefing later in the week and asked the public and media to monitor official channels for changing conditions.
