Monterey County Timber Fire Swells to 800 Acres, Evacuations Ordered

The Timber Fire, reported Saturday night at about 9:38 p.m., has expanded to 800 acres in Monterey County, a size twice that of the previous evening and still only 5% contained. The fire is burning southeast of Loma Vista within the Los Padres National Forest’s steep, heavily forested landscape, complicating suppression efforts. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office issued “LEAVE NOW!” evacuation orders late Sunday night for zones MRY-F026 and MRY-F027, which include the luxury Ventana Inn in Big Sur, and kept warning alerts for zones MRY-F024, MRY-F025 and MRY-F028.

The U.S. Forest Service and CAL FIRE are leading containment operations, but access difficulties, abundant fuel, and evening spotting have slowed progress. Officials are advising residents in ordered zones to take family, pets and vital documents immediately, while those in warning zones should ready go-bags for a rapid departure. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.