Overview
- The Timber Fire has burned about 24,970 acres and is roughly 21% contained with about 2,334 firefighters assigned, according to the Aug. 31 incident update.
- The newer Plaskett Fire expanded quickly to roughly 15,500 acres and is about 1% contained, prompting immediate evacuation orders for zones near Plaskett Ridge.
- State Route 1 is under a hard closure through the Big Sur area, Los Padres National Forest has an area closure in effect, and shelters are open in Carmel and Cambria for evacuees.
- Crews face steep, remote canyons and decades of accumulated fuels that limit ground access, so incident managers are relying on air drops, dozers where possible, backburns and drone ignition to hold lines.
- Thousands of personnel are assigned across both incidents, no widespread structure losses or civilian injuries have been confirmed, and officials say near‑critical weather could drive further growth and lengthen containment timelines.