Burn pile’s embers blamed for causing Big Sur wildfire
A 700-acre wildfire along California’s picturesque Big Sur coastline was sparked by hot embers from a “pile burning operation,” authorities said.
The blaze, named the Colorado Fire for its origin in the Palo Colorado Canyon, sped to the coastline on Friday night, pushed by wind gusts of up to 50 mph. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, said high winds blew the embers onto nearby vegetation, which then sparked the fire. Five hundred residents were ordered to evacuate.
Highway 1 from Palo Colorado Road to the Bixby Creek Bridge was closed in both directions with no reopening date.
“Currently, that stretch of roadway contains many potential hazards, including fire, falling rock, and heavy emergency services vehicles,” Monterey County said. “Safety is our number one priority. An increase in traffic on the roadway could create additional hazards.”
Only one structure has been damaged in the fire, according to Cal Fire, The blaze was 55% contained as of Wednesday.
The Monterey County Health Department on Sunday warned residents in the area to boil their water because of possible damage to system infrastructure.