The Timber Fire in Big Sur has triggered urgent evacuation orders in Monterey County after racing to about 800 acres, doubling in size from Sunday evening and remaining just 5% contained. The fast-moving blaze pushed the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office to issue immediate “LEAVE NOW!” orders late Sunday night for zones MRY-F026 and MRY-F027.
Those evacuation zones include the luxury Ventana Inn in Big Sur, underscoring how quickly the fire reached an area known for its remote setting and high-end lodgings. The fire was first reported Saturday night at about 9:38 p.m., and it has been burning southeast of Loma Vista in the rugged terrain of the Los Padres National Forest. Crews with the U.S. Forest Service and CAL FIRE have been working the fire, but officials say progress has been slowed by hard-to-reach ground, heavy fuel loads, and stronger fire activity in the evening, including spotting.
Even as the mandatory evacuation orders expanded, warnings remained in place for nearby zones MRY-F024, MRY-F025, and MRY-F028. Authorities said residents in the ordered areas should leave at once with family members, pets, and essential documents. Those in warning zones were told to pack go-bags and be ready to move quickly if conditions worsen.
Firefighters have received extra support both on the ground and from the air as they try to stop the Timber Fire from spreading farther through the steep and brush-heavy landscape. That response reflects the challenge crews often face in Big Sur and the surrounding forest country, where rugged roads, dense vegetation, and shifting fire behavior can make a wildfire hard to box in quickly. The combination of terrain and dry fuel can turn a small start into a major emergency in a matter of hours.
