Update: Highway 1 remains closed as Big Sur fire burns 2,500 acres
Update, 2 p.m.
Monterey County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a Fresno man suspected of starting the Dolan Fire in John Little State Natural Reserve near Big Sur.
Ivan Geronimo Gomez, 30, was arrested and booked into the Monterey County Jail on suspicion of arson of forest lands, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.
Gomez’ bail was set at $2 million.
Highway 1 remained closed between Ragged Point and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park as Wednesday afternoon, according to CalTrans.
Original story:
Highway 1 was closed in northern San Luis Obispo County on Wednesday morning due to a fire that broke out Tuesday night near Big Sur.
The Dolan Fire near was around 2,500 acres as of Wednesday morning and was “actively burning in all directions,” according to a Los Padres National Forest tweet.
Evacuations were issued for the east side of Dolan Caynon, which is south of Slates Hot Springs.
Highway 1 was closed from Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Monterey County due to the wildfire, according to CalTrans.
There is no estimated reopening time, according to CalTrans.
Los Padres National Forrest, Cal Fire, Monterey County Sheriff and Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade are assisting with the fire.
Along with the Dolan Fire, firefighters in Monterey County are battling the River Fire near Salinas and the Carmel Fire, just south of Carmel.
The River Fire began Sunday and has burned 10,672 acres and was 7% contained as of Wednesday, according to Cal Fire. The Carmel Fire began Tuesday and reached 1,200 acres by Wednesday.
This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 10:05 AM.
