Timber Fire: Some evacuation orders downgraded as containment inches up on Big Sur wildfire
BIG SUR, Calif. -- Fire crews gained a little ground overnight on the Timber Fire in Monterey County, with containment inching up to 24%, CAL FIRE officials announced Wednesday morning.
The fire is now 5,526 acres and continues to burn in the rugged Central Coast wilderness around the Big Sur area.
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State Highway 1 remains closed from mile marker 44.5 south of Alila Ventana Resort and Post Ranch Inn on the north side of the fire to mile marker 37 at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Vista Point on the south side.
"There was limited fire growth overnight on the eastern portion of the fire around Longwood Ridge," CAL FIRE officials reported Wednesday. "Fire activity was minimal and today ground crews will be supported with helicopter water drops to secure hand lines."
The fire is backing slowly toward the Big Sur River and burning at a low intensity on the northeastern side of the conflagration and remains south of the river. On the western side, fire crews will work to improve contingency lines on Wednesday and engage in mop-up operations.
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Monterey County officials said a disaster shelter at Carmel Middle School will be closed by noon and the last two evacuees will be put up closer to their homes at the Big Sur River Inn in the Big Sur Village.
Zones MRY-F027 and MRY-F028-A remain under evacuation orders, while zones MRY-F021-B, MRY-F022, MRY-F023, MRY-F024, MRY-F025, MRY-F026, MRY-F028-B and MRY-F029 are under evacuation warnings.
