Dolan Fire near Big Sur reaches 31,000 acres as containment increases to 35%
As firefighters worked to increase containment of the Dolan Fire to 35%, one of the four evacuation orders in the area was reduced to a warning, according to the Monterey County Department of Emergency Services.
The Partington area on the north end of the fire near Big Sur was no longer under an evacuation order Wednesday morning, but a warning remained in place.
Evacuation orders continued for the Dolan Ridge, Lucia and Prewitt Ridge areas, the emergency services department tweeted.
Highway 1 also remained closed Wednesday from Gorda to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, according to Caltrans.
The Dolan Fire, which is believed to have been started on Aug. 18 by arson, had grown to 31,000 acres — spreading another 1,500 acres or so since Tuesday morning.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, most of the fire’s growth continued in the Ventana Wildlife area where a California condor research facility was destroyed. Fire activity also continued in the area around Cone Peak.
The U.S. Forest Service identified the primary cause of continued spread to be burning logs and vegetation rolling off steep slopes and into areas with fresh fuel.
Eight structures had been destroyed as of Wednesday morning, the U.S. Forest Service reported.
Despite an increase in acreage, the fires containment increased from 25% Tuesday to 35% Wednesday morning.
Overnight crews were able to enhance containment lines made the previous day, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Big Sur heat wave may increase fire activity
On Wednesday morning, crews were expected to continue to mop up and reinforce containment lines with an excessive heat watch on the way.
While a marine layer up to 2,000 feet was expected to hang over the fire Wednesday, temperatures are forecasted to rise and humidity levels are expected to drop, according to the forest service.
Temperatures in the Big Sur area were expected to reach the 90s along the coast and low 100s in the inland areas from Friday to Monday.
The U.S. Forest Service said it expects fire activity to increase during the heat wave.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, firefighters have had to adjust operations to continue increasing containment.
