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Incident command shifts to Team 3 as Timber Fire expands in Big Sur
Summary
U.S. Forest Service and CAL FIRE officials said California Incident Management Team 3 has taken command of the Timber Fire in Big Sur; the incident has grown from about 5,000 acres at mid-August mobilization to nearly double that size, and officials pledged continued use of local resources and consistent public information.
U.S. Forest Service and CAL FIRE public information officers told Monterey County residents on Aug. 26 that California Incident Management Team 3 has assumed command of the Timber Fire in the Big Sur area of Los Padres National Forest and that local firefighting resources and public-information roles will continue.
"We did take over this incident from California Team 1," said Ralph Gonzalez of the U.S. Forest Service, describing Team 3 as “one of eight” complex-incident teams in California. Gonzalez said staffing and strategy will adjust as the incident grows. He added that when his team mobilized around a prior Friday the fire was “about 5,000 acres,” and that it is now “almost double that” size, increasing complexity and operational needs.
CAL FIRE public information officer Josh Lovera said local CAL FIRE personnel remain engaged after the transition and will continue to provide local knowledge and contacts. "We were accepted with open arms," Lovera said of the Team 3 transition, adding that his office aims to sustain timely releases and relationships with cooperators.
Officials said they will maintain the same public-information channels — InciWeb and social media — and expand face-to-face community engagement where needed. Gonzalez said the interagency goal is to leave the landscape in better shape than when the team arrived and to make information accessible for both residents and visitors along Highway 1.
The incident remains active and evolving; officials said they will provide updated briefings as conditions change.
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