A wildfire is forcing evacuations and threatening landmarks in the famed Big Sur region along California’s Central Coast.
The blaze, known as the Timber fire, has burned more than 4,000 acres and was 7 percent contained on Thursday morning. A portion of Highway 1, the coastal route that runs through Big Sur, is currently closed.
The region, which the writer and artist Henry Miller once described as “the face of the earth as the creator intended it to look,” draws millions of tourists each year and is known for its breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.
Officials are still investigating the cause of the Timber fire, which began over the weekend in Los Padres National Forest near the Loma Vista area, about 100 miles south of San Jose.
This fire season has been unusually active for much of the western United States, though California has had below average fire activity so far.
Here’s what to know about the Timber fire.
What’s the latest update?
The fire is pushing east into the wilderness, where firefighters must tread lightly to minimize any damage to historical landmarks and tribal lands, said Josh Silveira, a battalion chief with Cal Fire, the state’s firefighting agency.
No injuries or burned structures have been reported so far, Mr. Silveira said.
The blaze has grown very little toward the coast and Big Sur. Firefighters have focused on protecting buildings and local landmarks, which include Nepenthe, a cliff side restaurant, and the Henry Miller Memorial Library. This week, library staff wrapped paintings, photographs and sculptures in bubble wrap and blankets and loaded them onto vehicles. Evacuation orders remain in place.
“We implore you: Do not come to Big Sur,” a message posted to the library’s website says. “This is an incredibly serious situation. Fewer cars on the road allow Cal Fire and emergency services to do their job as effectively and safely as possible.”
What’s the weather forecast?
Firefighters were taking advantage of increased humidity and lower temperatures on Thursday, Mr. Silveira said.
Locations low enough to be within the marine layer will keep benefiting from humidity and potentially a drizzle. Up the mountain slope and above the marine layer, the forecast is less ideal, with a higher level of wildfire danger because of low humidity in areas with dense vegetation.
During the afternoon and evening hours, onshore wind gusts of 25 to 35 miles per hour could flow from west to east, especially in gaps, passes and valleys through the mountains.
This more seasonal weather will continue for the next day or two before a warming, drying trend is expected heading into the weekend.
Yesterday, some crews that were positioned on exposed ridges had to briefly pause their work because of lightning strikes from a storm that passed over the area, Mr. Silveira said.
What are Big Sur’s recent struggles?
Beset by fires, heavy winter storms and landslides, the Central Coast is known for being fraught with peril alongside its natural beauty.
Highway 1, the main way to enter or exit Big Sur, is frequently closed — increasingly so lately, and sometimes for many months. A 2024 landslide, Regent’s Slide, caused a nearly seven-mile section south of Big Sur to be closed for almost two years while crews rebuilt the highway. That disruption came after another lengthy closure farther south.
Residents of the area, home to about 1,500 people, have taken to stocking their pantries with canned foods and powdered milk to prepare for long periods of isolation.
Highway 1 is often filled with tourists, which has helped hotels and restaurants trying to recover from road closures but has frustrated local workers and residents. Many residents have been priced out as rent climbs and must commute from far away.
The Timber fire has affected tourism in the short term, given that visitors and residents alike have been forced to flee. But it is unclear what the long-term effects will be. Much of the fire is occurring in the Ventana Wilderness, a popular area for backpackers and hikers.
Are there other major fires in California right now?
Along the border of California and Nevada, the Bug fire has burned more than 88,000 acres, mostly in Nevada, and is 15 percent contained.
It began over the weekend and this week merged with a fire that started north of Reno, Nev. Authorities said they arrested a woman who told firefighters that she had intentionally set that fire, which was known as the Fred Mountain fire before it became part of the Bug fire.
The Bug fire has forced thousands of people to evacuate, including from tribal land.
Judson Jones and Amy Graff contributed reporting.
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