Highway 1 closure planned

Key Points:

• The Timber Fire in Monterey County has expanded to 19,296 acres with 21% containment, marking a nearly 18% increase in size since Tuesday night, according to CAL FIRE.
• Highway 1 will close Thursday at 1 p.m. between Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn and Andrew Molera State Park due to planned backburning operations by the U.S. Forest Service, with Caltrans set to clear hazards before reopening.
• Evacuation orders have been upgraded for several zones, evacuation warnings issued for others, and shelter-in-place orders implemented in multiple areas; residents in affected zones must be prepared to sustain themselves for up to seven days and avoid travel in closed areas.
• The fire has spread into the Ventana Wilderness with active spotting and directional changes, but firefighters have contained spot fires and continue firing operations to control the blaze amid critical fire weather conditions including low humidity and potential wind gusts.
• The fire threatens 661 structures, involves 1,228 personnel and extensive firefighting resources, and has caused evacuations including the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center; the fire started on August 8 and its cause is still under investigation.