Growing fire in Big Sur scorches houses on Pfeiffer Ridge, heads west.

A vegetation fire started near midnight Sunday night/Monday morning has already claimed a few structures of Pfeiffer Ridge and is reportedly heading for more.

Cal FIRE, Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade, the Los Padres National Forest fire team and other agencies are already scrambling to respond to the latest disaster to strike the South Coast, during the driest California year in recorded history.

(For more up-to-the-minute team reports from Big Sur, visit the Weekly news blog.)

More than 125 acres had burned by sunrise, drawing more than 130 firefighters, with more on the way. As of 11:20am, CalFire was reporting the fire was at 300 acres, with evacuations orders for 50 homes.

The sky was filled with ash.

No injuries have been reported. The number of homes destroyed varies wildly depending on the source. CalFire reports two homes destroyed; Weekly reporter David Schmalz and photography Nic Coury, from the scene, say neighbors report the number is closer to a dozen.

Weekly graphic designer Levi DeKeyrel lives on Apple Pie Ranch, about a mile from Pfeiffer Ridge, and says he saw flames at 1:30am from the pool deck at the ranch.

"You could see the flames at the top of the ridge and I heard a few propane tanks blow. My neighbors went over with a water tender they have on the ranch, but I haven't heard whether they were able to help or not," DeKeyrel says. "I think we're going to be fine. It seems to be going west to the ocean. It didn't seem like the highway was being threatened."

Weekly contributor Gabe Skvor, reporting from just south of the blaze, adds Fernwood was open overnight furnishing coffee for evacuees as long as they were safe there.

The Big Sur Grange is serving as the main shelter at the moment.

Weekly sales executive and Big Sur native Chelsea Davey joined her family in moving everything they can from her grandmother's Sycamore Canyon home. She had this just before dawn:

"The fire is massive. Most Big Sur businesses are open as shelters and families are stationed at each one.

"We are actively moving everything we can from the house. My uncle will start to cut trees as soon as day breaks. So far there is no air support.

"Going back down the canyon now for another load from the house. I have all the family photos and some heirloom pieces but there's still time for one more trip before Sycamore Canyon gets cut off."

At about 11:30, Davey messaged that fire officials showed up at her grandmother's house as family members were chainsawing trees and raking debris away from the structures.

"My mom went back down to try and help get livestock out of the canyon," Davey writes. "I think she has a friend with a horse trailer coming to rescue the Jardine's two horses," she adds, referring to horses owned by Beach Boy legend and Big Sur resident Al Jardine.

As air support arrived, with two tanker planes, a spotter and a helicopter in the sky - as of around 8:50am - Davey had safely evacuated to Apple Pie Ridge. At 11:30, she adds that the planes can't get close enough because the smoke is so thick. 

"It is fingering down Front Hill Road and down Sunrise Canyon…if they don't contain it there, it's really bad news," she writes. Sycamore Canyon is at the bottom of Rancho Rico and the property backs up to the famed Post Ranch.

"The fire is moving slowly downhill, but uphill it will go pretty fast," she adds. "Everyone is evacuated."