Coastal California Wildfire Nearly Half Contained as Growth Slows

Crews clear brush above Castro Canyon as the Timber fire burns in Big Sur, Calif., on Aug. 11, 2026. Nic Coury/AP Photo

Containment of the Plaskett fire in California’s Big Sur region has jumped from 1 percent to 47 percent in the past five days, as of officials’ latest update on Monday.

At the same time, the Plaskett fire and another fire that have together burned 55,000 acres along the central coast these past few weeks are seeing significantly less growth.

“Favorable weather on the Plaskett Fire continues to support progress along established control features,” officials said in the update. “Strategic firing operations and aviation support continue to assist containment efforts.”

The Plaskett fire, located around the small community of Plaskett, not far from Monterey County’s southern border, started on Aug. 26 and covers 29,900 acres, according to the latest report.

Despite quickly topping 29,000 acres by Sept. 2, the fire has grown more slowly since, increasing by less than 1,000 acres in the last five days.

In the same time frame, the Plaskett fire has gone from 1 percent contained to 47 percent contained.

However, officials added that steep, rugged terrain and limited access continue to make suppression challenging.

Fire crews are prioritizing the protection and defense of Big Sur structures, while focusing on reinforcing the fire lines—barriers dug into the ground to stop fire spread—and securing the edge of the fire.

The Timber fire, which started much earlier on Aug. 8, burns southeast of the Big Sur Village—the region’s primary commercial hub—on the inland side of Highway 1.

The fire surpassed 25,000 acres on Sept. 1 when it was 22 percent contained, but hasn’t moved much since, with the latest numbers in Monday’s update at nearly 25,400 acres and 27 percent contained.

Officials said that for the Timber fire, crews will focus on stopping the spread while putting out what remains in the fire area.

A total of 661 structures, some high-end, are said to be threatened by the Timber fire. Three firefighters have been injured so far.

In total, officials said 1,600 personnel have been deployed for the Timber fire. Meanwhile, 2,200 personnel, 145 fire trucks, 12 helicopters, and 58 crews have been deployed for the Plaskett fire. The two teams are working together.

Portions of Highway 1 continue to be closed, while evacuation orders and warnings stretch as far south as some northern parts of San Luis Obispo County.

Big Sur is a rugged, scenic coastal region where a mountain range rises from the Pacific Ocean, just south of the Monterey Peninsula.