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Timber Fire Grows To Nearly 3800 Acres, Nonprofit Starts Fundraiser
The fire remained stubbornly 5% contained at that time by midday Wednesday.
BIG SUR, CA — The Timber Fire burning in the Big Sur area of Monterey County continued to grow on Wednesday, scorching nearly 3,800 acres by midday.
The fire remained stubbornly 5% contained at that time.
Up to 640 residents were under evacuation orders and another roughly 350 were under evacuation warnings, according to Monterey County's Department of Emergency Management.
An overnight shelter for those under evacuation orders was established at Carmel Middle School. Three people stayed overnight Tuesday, according to the county.
The middle school is also serving as a temporary evacuation point for anyone under evacuation warnings who needs information or support.
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Cal Fire Battalion Chief Josh Silveira said during a virtual media briefing on the fire Wednesday that humidity had slightly increased, which was favorable for fighting the flames.
"But we can't change topography, so, that's going to be a challenge no matter what," Silveira said.
Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
State Highway 1 was closed for a 10-mile stretch in the area southeast of Loma Vista to facilitate firefighting operations. Silveira acknowledged the difficulty of getting through the area for residents who depend on the highway for movement in the forested coastal area.
"We don't take those road closures lightly," he said.
The nonprofit organization Community Foundation for Monterey County began a fundraiser for residents impacted by the fire at cfmco.org/.
There were over 900 firefighters and a range of airborne equipment from throughout the state assigned to the fire.
Over 500 structures were threatened as of Wednesday, including several iconic Big Sur properties known for high-end lodging and dining, including Nepenthe, Alila Ventana Big Sur, The Sur House, and Sierra Mar.
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