Overview
- As of Thursday the Timber Fire has grown to roughly 19,000–19,300 acres with containment below 25% and about 661 structures reported at risk.
- Over recent days the blaze pushed into older, long‑unburned fuels in the Ventana Wilderness, which experts say increases intensity and makes tactical ground suppression in the steep, roadless terrain largely impossible.
- National Weather Service and incident updates warn of near‑critical fire weather and poor overnight humidity recovery that are driving active nighttime behavior and could spark new runs.
- Officials expanded evacuation orders and warnings and closed a stretch of Highway 1 starting Thursday to allow planned backburning and protect the coastal corridor.
- A new Plaskett Fire ignited south of the Timber Fire, grew to roughly several dozen to about 140 acres, triggered separate evacuations, drew Timber resources to its initial attack, and the causes of both fires remain under investigation.