Overview
- Fire officials reported the Timber Fire at about 5,526 acres and 24% contained following gains on Wednesday, with crews reporting limited overnight growth on parts of the blaze.
- Monterey County downgraded several evacuation orders to warnings while keeping orders in place for zones MRY-F027-B and MRY-F028-A to protect areas at immediate risk.
- California Highway 1 through the fire area was shortened on the north side to mile marker 42.6 near Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn and remains closed on the south side near mile marker 37, reducing the closed stretch to roughly 7.5 miles.
- Incident command has assigned about 2,067 personnel and large equipment to the fire, using hand line construction, helicopter water drops and earlier planned ignitions to secure lines as the fire slowly backs toward the Big Sur River.
- Monterey County planned to close the Carmel Middle School disaster shelter and move remaining evacuees to the Big Sur River Inn, no structures have been reported lost so far, and the U.S. Forest Service is requesting photos or video to help determine the cause.