Pfeiffer Fire: Firefighters are ahead of schedule; advice on the best way to give money to affected residents.

The end of the Pfeiffer Fire is nigh.

U.S. Forest Service PIO Lynn Olson reports the Pfeiffer Fire is now 74 percent contained, and firefighters will hit their goal of full containment—set at 6pm Friday—a full 12-24 hours ahead of schedule.

Other numbers she reports: 843 acres burned and 879 firefighters battling the blaze.

“They got a lot of work done today,” Olson says, adding that she can see the fire burning outside the window from her desk at Big Sur Station.

“The fire is backing down to Highway 1 very slowly,” she says, burning ground debris but not trees, and firefighters are lining the road keep it clear and the fire contained.

As she coughed through the phone, she indicated the air quality is still bad, but also emphasizes that Highway 1 will remain open, as will local businesses.

Weekly contributor Gabe Skvor was in Big Sur today, and shared his thoughts:

I was taking these images as I was driving behind a very slow, one-lane, caravan this afternoon. 

As I was driving up, I was surprised to see how close the fire was to the highway. A long line of firefighters all the way from the Big Sur Station to Pfeiffer pullout (where fire trucks are staging across from Pfeiffer Ridge and Sycamore Canyon Roads), were waiting just in case any embers jumped. 

While people are setting up pages for those in need at www.gofundme.com, the Coast Property Owner's Association (CPOA) is also collecting donations at www.bigsurfire2013.org. Gofundme is, however, taking a 7.9 percent service fee (plus $0.30) for each donation, while the CPOA will give 100 percent of each contribution to those receiving assistance. 

The Community Foundation for Monterey just set up the Big Sur Fire Fund to relay donations to nonprofit agencies assisting individuals and organizations affected the fire. For more information, 375-9712.