Fires

Flames burn up to famed Bixby Bridge on Highway 1. See photos of the Big Sur wildfire

By Nick Wilson

Flames from the wind-whipped Colorado Fire burned right up to the iconic Bixby Bridge on Highway 1 on Saturday.

Bay Area News Group photographer Karl Mondon snapped a dramatic photo of the blaze Saturday morning, showing flames spreading behind the famous bridge as dawn broke.

Photos provided by Cal Fire showed the fire had burned most of a hillside beside the bridge.

As of Sunday morning, the fire stood at 1,050 acres and was 25% contained, according to Cal Fire.

It started at 7:17 p.m. Friday on Palo Colorado Canyon Road in Big Sur and led to evacuations and a closure of Highway 1.

Here’s a look at photos of the fire.

The Colorado Fire burns under Rocky Creek Bridge on Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
The Colorado Fire burns under Rocky Creek Bridge on Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) Nic Coury AP
The Colorado Fire burns along below Rocky Creek Bridge on Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
The Colorado Fire burns along below Rocky Creek Bridge on Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) Nic Coury AP
The Colorado Fire near Big Sur came close to the famous Bixby Bridge along Highway 1.
The Colorado Fire near Big Sur came close to the famous Bixby Bridge along Highway 1. Courtesy Cal Fire
A plane flies over the Colorado Fire in Big Sur.
A plane flies over the Colorado Fire in Big Sur. Cal Fire
An aerial shot of the Colorado Fire in Big Sur.
An aerial shot of the Colorado Fire in Big Sur. Courtesy Cal Fire
The Colorado Fire burns near the Bixby Bridge on Highway 1 in Big Sur, Calif., Saturday morning, Jan. 22, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group via AP)
The Colorado Fire burns near the Bixby Bridge on Highway 1 in Big Sur, Calif., Saturday morning, Jan. 22, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group via AP) Karl Mondon AP
An air tanker makes a drop on the Colorado Fire burning in Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group via AP)
An air tanker makes a drop on the Colorado Fire burning in Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group via AP) Karl Mondon AP
A California Highway Patrol officer drives south on Highway 1 as the Colorado Fire burns near Big Sur, Calif., Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
A California Highway Patrol officer drives south on Highway 1 as the Colorado Fire burns near Big Sur, Calif., Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) Nic Coury AP
The Colorado Fire burns along Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
The Colorado Fire burns along Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) Nic Coury AP
The Colorado Fire burns behind a house off Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
The Colorado Fire burns behind a house off Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) Nic Coury AP
The Colorado Fire burns a fence off Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
The Colorado Fire burns a fence off Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) Nic Coury AP
The Colorado Fire burns along Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
The Colorado Fire burns along Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) Nic Coury AP
The Colorado Fire burns along Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
The Colorado Fire burns along Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) Nic Coury AP
A PG&E webcam in the Carmel Valley captured this image of the wildfire burning in the Palo Colorado Canyon area of Big Sur on Friday night.
A PG&E webcam in the Carmel Valley captured this image of the wildfire burning in the Palo Colorado Canyon area of Big Sur on Friday night. PG&E

This story was originally published January 23, 2022 at 11:39 AM.

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