Wildfire in California's Big Sur region doubles overnight, prompting evacuations
The Plaskett fire in California's Big Sur coastal region doubled in size overnight, forcing nearby residents to evacuate, while firefighters continue battling a separate, larger blaze in the area for weeks.
Firefighters in California's scenic Big Sur region were battling two wildfires on Friday, one of which had doubled in size overnight and forced the evacuation of nearby residents.
The Plaskett fire, which ignited on Tuesday, had burned through more than 5,900 acres (about 2,400 hectares) in Monterey county by Friday and remained uncontained, according to Cal Fire. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
Crews have deployed helicopters and air tankers to drop water on the flames, but the area's remote, steep terrain and lack of roads have made it difficult for ground crews to reach the fire directly.
Larger blaze burns to the north
To the north, the Timber fire has been burning for weeks and has now scorched more than 24,000 acres (about 9,700 hectares). Authorities report it is 21% contained, though the fire has breached some containment lines. Smoke and cloud cover prevented officials from mapping how far the fire spread overnight.
Both fires have led to partial closures of Highway 1, the scenic coastal route through Big Sur that connects Los Angeles and San Francisco.
