Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Timber Fire in Monterey County has burned 23,000 acres three weeks after it first sparked, with the fire expanding rapidly over the past several days. Containment is at 21% as crews conduct backburning operations. Evacuation and shelter-in-place orders remain in effect in Big Sur, while Highway 1 is closed along roughly 40 miles. Officials are warning residents to limit travel because of heavy smoke, ash and firefighting traffic. Crews are also monitoring the fire’s potential movement east, with some communities preparing for possible evacuations.
The Timber Fire in Monterey County has burned 23,000 acres three weeks after it first sparked, with the fire expanding rapidly over the past several days. Containment is at 21% as crews conduct backburning operations. Evacuation and shelter-in-place orders remain in effect in Big Sur, while Highway 1 is closed along roughly 40 miles. Officials are warning residents to limit travel because of heavy smoke, ash and firefighting traffic. Crews are also monitoring the fire’s potential movement east, with some communities preparing for possible evacuations.
