The tight-knit community of Big Sur deals with the unknowns of another fire.

As of 4pm on Monday, Aug. 10, the Timber Fire in Big Sur has grown to more than 1,700 acres and is 5 percent contained, burning the steep slopes in the folds of the Ventana Wilderness and continuing to expand.

Katie Rodriguez here, keeping tabs on the many agencies, fire crews, businesses and Facebook pages posting updates on the status of the spread.

I happened to be in Big Sur yesterday reporting on another story, spending a few hours at Bixby Bridge (now staffed with California Highway Patrol officers to stop people from parking at the bridge) before heading down south to interview a number of people. The day was shockingly calm; traffic was minimal for a weekend day. 

Of course, Car Week is underway, which adds another layer to the fire response as a surge in visitors is anticipated over the next week, including many traveling through Big Sur, which, as of Sunday, Aug. 9 at 11pm, is under evacuation orders. 

Throughout the day Sunday, aircraft of various kinds flew overhead in increasing numbers (including a monstrous CH-47 Chinook), many trailing water behind them, going back and forth to the Hollister Air Attack Base that was serving as a tanker reload base. According to alerts from the Watch Duty app, when I arrived in Big Sur Sunday morning, the fire was around 100 acres. By the time I left around 5pm, the fire had reportedly reached nearly 400 acres.

Big Sur is a tight-knit community, as many are aware. Word of the fire and updates of its spread traveled quickly among those in the community. I heard whispers about folks moving their horses and speculation about what may have started the fire. One woman I spoke with at The Village shared with me what she knew about the fire based on word from her partner who serves on the Big Sur Fire brigade—the first to arrive with engines, water tenders and all of their firefighters.

“We're still operating a lot on second, third-hand information,” says Kirk Gafill of Nepenthe, who, as of 11am today, says he plans to stay onsite for now unless weather and fire conditions shift dramatically. See Monterey has compiled a list of hotels in Monterey offering discount rates to Timber Fire evacuees. 

The County of Monterey has also established a temporary evacuation point at the Multi Agency Facility at Big Sur Station to help residents who are under evacuation order. It is open today through Thursday from 8am to 6:30pm or until evacuation orders are lifted; residents can request sheltering resources, and comfort kits, water and snacks will be provided by the American Red Cross.

“Highway 1 is open, guest traffic is coming through,” Gafill says. “We're just in that balancing act of being a mandatory evacuation zone. We've got public access that could change in 10 seconds.”

Based on the fire’s location, the incident is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service. Cal Fire will assume command of the Timber Fire this evening. The cause of the fire will be investigated and released by the USFS.

“We all must remain patient with each other and the process,” said Matt Harris, Big Sur Fire Chief, in a press release around noon on Aug. 10. “We need to plan ahead as best as possible for evacuations both north and south of the fire. We also need to remain tight as a community as we have done so many times before.”

Stay ready: Sign up for emergency alerts at alertmontereycounty.org.