A fast-burning wildfire near Big Sur exploded to nearly 6,000 acres on Saturday morning, leading to several urgent evacuation orders as the flames threatened scenic Highway 1.
The Plaskett Fire, on Forest Road 23S10 east of Los Burros Road, had burned only 140 acres as of Thursday before spreading over a massive area in Monterey County.
Fire burns on a hillside at the Plaskett Fire on Friday, August 28, 2026, in Big Sur, Calif. AP Photo/Ethan Swope
Los Padres Hotshots clear brush as the Plaskett Fire burns on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Big Sur, Calif. AP Photo/Ethan Swope
Cal Fire said the Plaskett Fire progressed overnight into Saturday in a 6:31 a.m. update.
“The Plaskett Fire experienced slight progression overnight, continuing to back downslope toward Highway 1 south of Plaskett Road,” the update said. “Fire activity moderated during the overnight period under improved humidity recovery and increased marine influence. Crews remain actively engaged along this portion of the incident, monitoring fire movement and reinforcing control features as conditions allow.”
“On the upper portion of the incident, fire activity continues to influence areas toward South Coast Ridge Road. Dozers and ground resources are extending, improving, and strengthening approximately seven miles of containment line associated with the South Coast Ridge Road system. These control features continue to hold, and crews will focus today on increasing line depth, improving access, and securing areas where fire activity could challenge established containment features,” they added.
There are evacuation orders in place for zones MRY-F034, MRY-F035, MRY-F036 and MRY-G016 near Plaskett. Warnings have been issued to zones MRY-F033, MRY-F037, and MRY-G015.
A large stretch of Highway 1, around 40 miles, has been closed due to the fires in the area. Businesses have also been forced to close in what one business owner described as a “gut punch” during the busy summer months.
Cal Fire expects to prioritize structural defense on Saturday and is strategizing to minimize damage to the local area. They also expect more help over the weekend.
“Additional personnel and equipment are expected to arrive on the incident today, increasing operational capacity and allowing resources to expand suppression, structure-defense, and contingency operations,” they wrote.
Firefighters watch as a wildfire called the Plaskett Fire burns towards Highway 1 on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Big Sur, Calif. AP Photo/Ethan Swope
Nearly 500 personnel have been assigned to the Plaskett Fire, with 36 engines, 6 helicopters, and “numerous” firefighting air tankers are assisting.
The wildfire grows as the nearby Timber Fire had scorched more than 24,000 acres as of Saturday morning. Both wildfires cover, combined, more than 30,000 acres.
The Timber Fire is far larger and has had a much wider impact on the Big Sur area. Cal Fire said in a Saturday update that the fire had “pushed south and breached control features in multiple areas” but “firefighters remain committed to their core strategic objective of containing the blaze north of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, south of Carmel Valley Road, east of Highway 1, and west of Millers Ranch.”
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