By admin After expanded evacuation orders and warnings at the start of the week, limited overnight activity on the Timber Fire changed evacuation urgency for multiple zones.
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The fire grew 315 acres overnight to a total of 12,915 acres in Big Sur and is 26% contained as of Tuesday morning, according to Cal Fire.
Evacuation orders have been made in seven zones where the fire poses an “immediate threat to life,” and warnings are in place in 11 zones — 10 fewer warning areas than the day prior.
The northern and eastern portions of the Timber Fire merged over the weekend, increasing acreage in the Ventana Wilderness, but from Monday night to Tuesday morning, fire activity remained relatively quiet, Cal Fire said.
By 9:20 p.m. Monday, the northern portion of the fire around Island Mountain had made moderate runs to the east and was backing toward Ventana Creek, resulting in visible smoke throughout the day. The fire was moving up the canyon in the Lion Creek drainage toward Ventana Cone.
On Monday, fire crews continued to strengthen and reinforce containment and contingency lines to the north and south of the fire while dozers and hand crews strengthened control features to the northeast, According to Cal Fire. Containment lines held on the coastal side of the fire.
Tuesday’s daytime operations will continue the work established overnight, primarily focusing on securing incomplete handlines and holding established control features, according to the agency’s incident update.
Air operations conducted an uncrewed flight in the northwest portion of the fire overnight while flames continued backing down toward Logwood Creek, the incident update said.
Ongoing air operations are fully supported by two uncrewed flight modules for the day and night and a fleet of 13 helicopters.
In the Coast Ridge area, crews maintained their positions, monitored fire activity and utilized water tenders along Coast Ridge Road and Highway 1, with resources dispersed throughout the operational footprint.
A handline remained incomplete in the Pine Ridge area and crews were focusing on tying in those remaining sections Tuesday.
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The incident update warned that field personnel should prepare for “critical fire weather” Tuesday as conditions approach “Red Flag Warning” criteria, with upper elevations expected to drop into single-digit relative humidity.
Very hot and dry conditions are expected over the next several days, likely resulting in increased fire behavior and activity, Cal Fire said Monday night.
Where are the evacuation orders in place?
On Tuesday, seven zones — down from Monday’s nine — were closed to public access and under “leave now” evacuation orders:
- MRY-F015-C
- MRY-D082
- MRY-D090
- MRY-D089
- MRY-D091
- MRY-F031-A
- MRY-F028-B
Eleven other zones were under evacuation warnings with a “potential threat to life.” Those who require additional time to evacuate or have pets and livestock are advised to leave now:
- MRY-F015-B
- MRY-D078
- MRY-D084
- MRY-D085
- MRY-D086
- MRY-D088
- MRY-F031-B
- MRY-F030-A
- MRY-F030-B
- MRY-F032-A
- MRY-F032-B
Smoke from Timber Fire affects SLO County
Moderate smoke impacts from the Timber Fire near Big Sur were expected to impact areas in North County on Monday, according to the county’s Air Pollution Control District.
The northern interior portion of San Luis Obispo County, particularly in and around Atascadero, experienced moderate smoke impacts on Monday morning, according to the district.
Smoke was expected to clear during the day Monday then return overnight into the early morning Tuesday.
Atascadero’s air quality index was at a 66 on Monday morning, according to the district’s air quality index. It had dropped to 22 by Tuesday morning.
This story was originally published August 25, 2026 at 10:00 AM with the headline “Timber Fire evacuation zones drop as Big Sur blaze grows to nearly 13,000 acres.”
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