A new wildfire, dubbed the Plaskett Fire, ignited in Big Sur, California, forcing evacuations and the closure of a key coastal highway. The blaze, which began on Forest Road 23S10 east of Los Burros Road, had already scorched 140 acres by Thursday morning with no containment, according to CalFire.
As a result of the Plaskett Fire, evacuation orders were issued by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office for zone MRY-F036, and warnings were put in place for zones MRY-F035 and MRY-F037. At least 28 people were reportedly evacuated from their homes.
Highway 1 Closure
The California Highway Patrol announced the closure of a section of scenic Highway 1, effective at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday. The closure extends from one mile south of Old Coast Road (Mile Marker 50.1) to a half-mile south of Deetjens Big Sur Inn (Mile Marker 42.6). The duration of this closure is currently unknown.
Firefighting efforts are underway, with six helicopters engaged in suppression strategies, some drawing water directly from the ocean. The Plaskett Fire is burning approximately three miles inland from Highway 1 and Willow Creek. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This new fire emerged as another blaze, the Timber Fire, which started on August 9, continued to burn in the same region. As of Thursday morning, the Timber Fire had consumed over 19,000 acres.
