You can drive down Highway 1 again, but Big Sur isn’t in the clear yet. Photo: Cal Fire
The classic Big Sur road trip down Highway 1 is once again accessible after the Timber Fire had prompted its closure since the blaze started on August 9. But as the west side of the fire remains contained, the eastern side sparked up over the weekend, more than doubling in size.
On Friday, August 21, the blaze had scorched 6,147 acres. But due to dry conditions and warm temperatures over the weekend, the fire swelled to 12,616 acres according to the last update Monday morning. The growth occurred in remote, hard-to-reach canyons that ground crews have not been able to tackle head-on, leading to new evacuation orders around the borders. The Timber Fire is currently listed as 25 percent contained.
“Due to critically low relative humidity and severe nocturnal drying, the two areas of increased fire activity continued to the northeast and east of the fire,” Cal Fire said in an update.
Aircraft and helicopters are tackling the fire as it burns in steep, rugged terrain dissected by river canyons. Cal Fire has deployed more than 1,300 individuals, 14 helicopters, 81 fire engines, and 10 bulldozers to contain the fire.
While suppression efforts intensify on the eastern front, Cal Fire has determined that the western flank on Highway 1 is safe for motorists. The road is fully open, and vehicles can pass through the entirety of coastal Big Sur.
