California’s Timber Fire Expands to 12,616 Acres; Monterey County Evacuations Remain

The Timber Fire has scorched 12,616 acres in Monterey County and is 25 percent contained as of Monday morning, with 1,368 personnel battling the blaze, the Cal Fire Benito-Monterey Unit said in a Monday update on Facebook.

The fire, which ignited the evening of Aug. 8 and remains under investigation, is located southeast of Loma Vista and is being managed jointly by the Los Padres National Forest and the Monterey County Sheriff's Department, according to Cal Fire data.

Fire Pushes Into Wilderness Area

On the fire's northern and eastern edges, separate blazes have merged and expanded into the Ventana Wilderness, according to a U.S. Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest update posted Monday. The flames have partially climbed Island Mountain and backed down a drainage overnight, and fire behavior is expected to advance up the Lion Creek drainage toward Ventana Double Cone and the upper Carmel River basin.

Crews are holding the line at Logwood Ridge while preparing firing operations along Coast Ridge Road, and air resources will be available to drop water and retardant Monday given the steep, rugged terrain. To the south, firefighters are mopping up hot spots in the Torre Canyon area left from firing operations conducted last week, and are pulling equipment from the coastal side of the fire while reinforcing contingency lines to the north and south.

Weather and Closures

Forecasters expect high clouds, slightly cooler temperatures, and a marginally deeper marine layer Monday, conditions that could modestly slow fire activity. Wind direction will vary with terrain, and poor overnight humidity recovery is expected to continue drying vegetation. Los Padres National Forest has issued a closure order covering trails and roads within the fire area.

Evacuations

Evacuation orders—described by Cal Fire as lawful commands to leave immediately because of an immediate threat to life—are in place for zones MRY-D082, MRY-D089, MRY-D090, MRY-D091, MRY-F015-C, MRY-F028-B and MRY-F031-A. Evacuation warnings, issued for areas facing a potential threat to life or property, cover a broader set of zones including MRY-D078, MRY-D084 through MRY-D086, MRY-D088, MRY-F015-B, and multiple zones numbered F021 through F032.

The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services said on Monday that fire crews are working to strengthen containment lines and prepare for additional firing operations within the Ventana Wilderness, and noted that evacuation orders and warnings "continue to evolve.” Residents were urged to check readymontereycounty.org for the latest evacuation updates, including areas added to or removed from the zones.