{"id":6701,"date":"2026-08-12T23:10:52","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T23:10:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=6701"},"modified":"2026-08-12T23:10:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T23:10:52","slug":"update-timber-fire-grows-to-over-3000-acres-in-big-sur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=6701","title":{"rendered":"Update: Timber Fire grows to over 3,000 acres in Big Sur"},"content":{"rendered":"

BIG SUR \u2014 As the Timber Fire burns into its fourth day, consuming more than 3,000 acres and at 5% contained, firefighters are hoping recently cut firelines will help contain the blaze near Big Sur in the north and south.<\/p>

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Cal Fire says the fire has stayed active overnight, burning in higher elevations above the marine layer. The fire has burned up steep hillsides, continued to ignite individual trees and has slowly crept downhill. So far, it has continued to spread north and south but has not spread downhill closer to Highway 1, which many are attributing to the slowing effect of the marine later.<\/p>\n

Fire lines are being established along the western and northern flanks of the fire. Cal Fire says dozer operators and ground crews have built lines near Partington Ridge and running to Highway 1, the site of many homes, as other crews patrol and mop up hot spots closer to structures. On the northern flank, bulldozers are cutting along a ridgeline between Highway 1 and the Big Sur River, which runs along the coast.<\/p>\n

Cal Fire said they are still looking for safe opportunities to engage on the eastern flank of the fire, where its is burning in undeveloped wilderness areas.\u00a0 Firefighters have repeatedly emphasized that the steep and rugged terrain of Big Sur is making it difficult to get to and fight the fire. Crews have had to move on foot to fire sites and work with hand tools. Cal Fire says Hotshot crews are working through steep, heavy vegetation to establish containment lines as conditions allow, with additional resources arriving on scene. In a County of Monterey briefing Wednesday, Josh Silviera from Cal Fire described burning material rolling down drainage areas and burning back up at firefighters as they worked to contain the fire.<\/p>\n

Cal Fire says the weather could be a problem later this afternoon and into the evening. There is a 15-20% chance of thunderstorms entering the fire area, which could bring strong, erratic winds and unstable conditions and possibly elevate fire weather conditions. Rain could help dampen the fire, by the risk of high wind and lightning presents other problems. The Basin-Complex Fire, once the most expensive fire in California\u2019s history, was started by an errant lighting strike.<\/p>\n