Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Timber Fire, in Big Sur, continues to grow to the east. In the past 2 days, the fire has pushed about a mile deeper into the canyons of the Ventana Wilderness, where steep, broken terrain makes fighting the fire directly very difficult for ground-based firefighters. Helicopters have been used over the past 10 days to slow the spread of the fire in these backcountry areas, but air power alone does not put fires out, and it looks likely that the more remote areas of this fire will spread across the landscape for the remainder of the summer.
00:00 – Intro and morning update: Fire movement gains "intention"
01:09 – Webcam analysis: 12 hours of infrared heat flickering from Chews Ridge
01:34 – Front country status: Coastline from Big Sur to Deetjen's remains "cold"
01:55 – Wilderness push: Tracking growth toward Sykes Hot Springs and Mount Olmstead
02:23 – Contingency prep: Dozer lines on Coast Ridge Road and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
02:56 – Critical spread: Fire established in the South Fork of the Big Sur River
03:35 – Island Mountain projection: Why a river crossing is likely in the next 48 hours
04:24 – Tactical overview: Reopening Soberanes Fire dozer lines at El Sur Ranch
04:51 – Climatology: Why east winds aren't an immediate threat until late September
05:22 – Control limitations: Why aircraft and ground crews can't "stop" this wilderness run
05:56 – Fire History: Comparing 10-year-old vs. 18-year-old brush (Soberanes 2016 vs. 2008)
07:08 – Community Support: Analyzing Ventana fire history and "The Lookout" mission
Thanks to our sponsors:
Deer Creek Resources - deercreekgis.com
WATERAX - waterax.com
FYREBX - fyrebx.com
Wildfire Safety Systems - wildfiresafetysystems.com
QTAC--qtacfire.com - Use checkout code 'The Lookout' for a free draft hose kit with any UTV or Pickup skid order!
To learn more about your local Prescribed Burn Association, check out calpba.org.
Join our Patreon for extra content!
patreon.com/c/TheLookout1
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The Timber Fire, in Big Sur, continues to grow to the east. In the past 2 days, the fire has pushed about a mile deeper into the canyons of the Ventana Wilderness, where steep, broken terrain makes fighting the fire directly very difficult for ground-based firefighters. Helicopters have been used over the past 10 days to slow the spread of the fire in these backcountry areas, but air power alone does not put fires out, and it looks likely that the more remote areas of this fire will spread across the landscape for the remainder of the summer.
00:00 – Intro and morning update: Fire movement gains "intention"
01:09 – Webcam analysis: 12 hours of infrared heat flickering from Chews Ridge
01:34 – Front country status: Coastline from Big Sur to Deetjen's remains "cold"
01:55 – Wilderness push: Tracking growth toward Sykes Hot Springs and Mount Olmstead
02:23 – Contingency prep: Dozer lines on Coast Ridge Road and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
02:56 – Critical spread: Fire established in the South Fork of the Big Sur River
03:35 – Island Mountain projection: Why a river crossing is likely in the next 48 hours
04:24 – Tactical overview: Reopening Soberanes Fire dozer lines at El Sur Ranch
04:51 – Climatology: Why east winds aren't an immediate threat until late September
05:22 – Control limitations: Why aircraft and ground crews can't "stop" this wilderness run
05:56 – Fire History: Comparing 10-year-old vs. 18-year-old brush (Soberanes 2016 vs. 2008)
07:08 – Community Support: Analyzing Ventana fire history and "The Lookout" mission
Thanks to our sponsors:
Deer Creek Resources - deercreekgis.com
WATERAX - waterax.com
FYREBX - fyrebx.com
Wildfire Safety Systems - wildfiresafetysystems.com
QTAC--qtacfire.com - Use checkout code 'The Lookout' for a free draft hose kit with any UTV or Pickup skid order!
To learn more about your local Prescribed Burn Association, check out calpba.org.
Join our Patreon for extra content!
patreon.com/c/TheLookout1
For Lookout Merch: ko-fi.com/thelookout/shop
We are viewer-supported. You can become a monthly Patreon or PayPal subscriber or make a one-time donation on our website: the-lookout.org
