Firefighters survey smoke from the Plaskett Fire burning Saturday in California’s Big Sur region. The fire expanded to more than 15,000 acres and was only 1% contained on Sunday. Photo courtesy California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Aug. 30 (UPI) — A pair of wildfires burning along California’s Big Sur region expanded quickly over the weekend, jumping containment lines, closing roads and triggering extensive evacuations.
The Plaskett fire and the Timber fire have been burning for weeks in the rugged terrain of Monterrey and San Luis Obispo counties about 200 miles south of San Francisco.
But strong, gusty winds on Saturday sparked a rapid escalation, prompting officials to close the scenic State Hwy. 1 and issue a series of new evacuation orders after the Plaskett Fire jumped containment lines overnight.
That fire ballooned to nearly 15,500 acres and was only `1% contained as of Sunday afternoon, while the Timber Fire had spread to 24,700 acres and was 21% contained.
Firefighters fought to save structures near Sand Dollar and Plaskett Creek, executing “tactical firing operations overnight as the fire backed toward structures and residences,” according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
The Plaskett fire crossed over the primary bulldozer containment line, officials said, even as ground teams supported by night flying helicopters fought to put out the “slop-overs.”
Monterrey County officials warned residents of Carmel Valley, Calif., to be ready for possible evacuation orders on Sunday as the fire advanced on the community. A mandatory evacuation order was issued later in day for an area southeast of Salmon Creek Trail and north of the San Luis Obispo County line.
The California Highway Patrol, meanwhile, closed Hwy. 1 just north of the county line, as well as further north at a location south of Little Sur River.