New evacuation orders in Big Sur as the Dolan Fire continues to grow.

Evacuations from Partington Ridge in the north down to Lucia in the south have been ordered as the Dolan Fire continues to grow. The area went from an evacuation warning to an evacuation order today, Friday, Aug. 21. 

The fire has grown to 8,500 acres and is zero-percent contained, according to the United States Forest Service, the lead agency on the fire.

Fire activity picked up again this afternoon and is continuing to spread to the north, east and south. Firefighters are actively defending a western boundary at Highway 1 in an effort to keep the fire from jumping to the west side of the highway, where steep terrain is virtually impassable. 

Crews are preparing for it to be a long-duration fire, with wind and low visibility due to smoke inhibiting their ability to fight the fire.