Multiple wildfires that have scorched thousands of acres remain active across California on Thursday, Aug. 13, with several still reporting low containment.
The Timber Fire in Big Sur continues to grow and remains less than 10% contained. Fire crews made progress on the Bug Fire, which quickly spread into Nevada, but changing winds pushed the blaze back into California after fire activity had temporarily left the state. In Humboldt County, the MP18 Fire has burned nearly 4,000 acres, while the Plains Fire in San Luis Obispo County is holding steady at about 2,500 acres.
Here’s what to know about four wildfires burning across California today.
Timber Fire in Monterey County
As of 9:35 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, the Timber Fire in Big Sur had scorched 4,245 acres and was 7% contained, according to a CAL FIRE status report.
The wildfire began “in a remote location with difficult access” at about 9:38 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8, burning about 100 acres, the Los Padres National Forest said in a Facebook post.
On Wednesday afternoon, lightning forced ground crews to temporarily scale back their efforts as they retreated to designated safe zones, CAL FIRE said. Fire crews restarted their efforts about an hour later.
“The fire continued to burn actively above the marine layer overnight,” fire officials said.
Fire crews were working Thursday to “open old fire lines as a contingency as well as finding safe and effective places to put new lines as close as possible to the active fire edge,” CAL FIRE said.
The weather system that brought showers and thunderstorms to the area has moved east.
“The heavy marine layer is expected to dominate for the next few days. A warming, drying trend is anticipated into the weekend,” officials said.
No injuries have been reported, according to CAL FIRE, which says the cause of the fire is under investigation. There are currently 503 structures threatened by the fire.
Evacuation orders are in place for the following zones: MRY-FO23, MRY-F025, MRY-F026, MRY-F027, and MRY-F028-A.
Evacuation warnings have been issued for the areas of MRY-FO21-B, MRY-FO22, MRY-F024, MRY-F028-B, and MRY-FO29.
An emergency shelter has been set up at Carmel Middle School for those displaced by the fire.
Highway 1 is closed due to the Timber Fire and ongoing evacuations. The closure extends from the Big Sur Bakery / Big Sur Post Office (milepost marker 45.1) in the north to the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Vista Point (milepost marker 37) in the south, according to the California Highway Patrol, Monterey.
Bug Fire in Sierra and Lassen counties
The Bug Fire started in Lassen County shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, and quickly spread into Sierra County and Washoe County, Nevada, according to CAL FIRE.
The fire, which has burned 88,442 acres, was at 15% containment as of Thursday, Aug. 13.
As of the afternoon of Tuesday, Aug. 11, the fire activity was no longer present in California, according to CAL FIRE. However, on Wednesday afternoon, “changing winds pushed the Bug Fire back into California, and the fire crossed Highway 395 north of Highway 70,” according to the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office.
Evacuation orders are in place for the following zones in Lassen County: LAS-451, LAS-453, LAS-669-B, and LAS-671-B.
Evacuation warnings have been issued for the areas of Lassen County: LAS-449-A and LAS-699-B. For Plumas County, the following zones are also under evacuation warnings: PLU-083, PLU-104, PLU-105, and PLU-114.
Evacuation warnings and orders are also in place for Washoe County, Nevada. For the most current evacuation information, visit perimetermap.com.
U.S. 395 is closed in both directions from the Nevada Border to Red Rock Road, CAL FIRE reports.
No injuries have been reported, according to CAL FIRE.
MP18 Fire in Humboldt County
MP18 Fire, which started Friday, Aug. 7, along Highway 96 at Norton Creek, has burned 3,937 acres and stands at 6% containment, according to a CAL FIRE status report.
Highway 96 between Weitchpec and Hoopa is closed, CAL FIRE’s report shows.
Evacuation orders are in place for the following zone: HIA-E002-A.
Evacuation warnings have been issued for the areas: HIA-E001-B, HIA-E002-B, HIA-E003, HIA-E004, HIA-E006, and HIA-E014-C.
There have been no injuries reported in relation to the fire, according to CAL FIRE, which reports the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Plains Fire in San Luis Obispo County
The Plains Fire started at 12:35 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at Soda Lake Road and Carrizo Plains in rural San Luis Obispo County, according to CAL FIRE.
Fire officials managed to stop the forward progress by Wednesday evening.
“The Plains Incident is holding at approximately 2,500 acres and is 35% contained. Firefighters are making good progress strengthening and improving containment lines,” fire officials said in a Thursday morning update.
Neither evacuation orders nor warnings have been issued. Fire officials are investigating the cause of the fire.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Multiple CA wildfires burn as fire season intensifies. What to know
Reporting by Daniella Segura, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Daniella Segura, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
