BIG SUR, Calif. (AP) — Fire crews with water-dropping aircraft attacked a small wildfire that prompted new evacuations Thursday along California’s remote Big Sur coast, where a much larger blaze has been burning for nearly three weeks.
Read more Beloved New Orleans hospital, wracked by floods and grief in Hurricane Katrina, to get a makeover
The Plaskett Fire erupted the previous day in steep terrain in Monterey County near Highway 1. Officials briefly closed a portion of the scenic coastal route Thursday afternoon as firefighters scrambled to keep the flames from running through canyons.
A handful of isolated properties were under evacuation orders and warnings. The fire had no containment so far, and its cause was under investigation.
Read more Civil rights groups make urgent plea for voting rights in DC, ahead of midterm elections
A helicopter flies over Willow Creek to fill up a water bucket to help fight the Plaskett Fire near Big Sur, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
A plane drops fire retardant on the Plaskett Fire near Big Sur, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
A firefighter trims bushes around the U.S. Forest Service fire station to help protect structures from the Plaskett Fire near Big Sur, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Crews trim bushes around the U.S. Forest Service fire station to help protect structures from the Plaskett Fire near Big Sur, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
About 40 miles to the north, officials closed another section of the highway where the Timber Fire has been active since Aug. 8. Crews performed back-burning operations, deliberately setting fire to brush to keep the bigger blaze from advancing toward populated areas of Big Sur.
The larger fire was nearly 31 square miles, with more than 20% containment.
Fire danger is high in much of California due to an increased risk of lightning and gusty winds from the remnants of a tropical storm in the Pacific.
Read more How to help after Nepal and Tibet’s catastrophic floods