Plaskett Fire Surges Past 5,000 Acres in Big Sur as Evacuations and Highway 1 Closures Continue
BIG SUR, California — August 29, 2026 — The Plaskett Fire burning along California’s scenic Big Sur coast has grown to more than 5,000 acres as firefighters continue battling the wildfire in steep and difficult terrain.
The wildfire began on August 26 near Forest Road 23S10, east of Los Burros Road in Monterey County. The cause remains under investigation.
According to the latest CAL FIRE active-incident information, the Plaskett Fire has burned approximately 5,417 acres and remains 0% contained.
Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued for communities threatened by the fire. Officials have also closed a large section of Highway 1, one of California’s most famous coastal highways, while firefighters work to protect structures and prevent the flames from advancing farther through the rugged Big Sur landscape.
Firefighting operations have included helicopters, air tankers, ground crews and heavy equipment. The difficult terrain has complicated direct access to portions of the fire, forcing crews to rely heavily on aircraft and strategic control lines.
Officials have warned that changing weather conditions could create additional challenges. Dry vegetation combined with the possibility of thunderstorms and strong outflow winds can cause sudden changes in wildfire behavior.
The Plaskett Fire is also burning while the much larger Timber Fire remains active farther north in Monterey County, putting additional pressure on firefighting resources in the Big Sur region.
No deaths associated with the Plaskett Fire have been officially reported in the latest incident information.
Residents in affected areas are being urged to follow evacuation instructions from local authorities and avoid closed sections of Highway 1.
The situation remains active, and acreage, containment and evacuation information may change as firefighters obtain more accurate mapping and continue suppression operations.
