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Wildfire along California’s Big Sur forces evacuations

Geysers Peak in Sonoma Co, units still en-route reporting a 1/2 acre vegetation fire w/ strong winds on it, addl resources being requested. Visible on several cameras (believe the first camera is very close to the fire/zoomed in). Source - Cal Fire Scanner
Geysers Peak in Sonoma Co, units still en-route reporting a 1/2 acre vegetation fire w/ strong winds on it, addl resources being requested. Visible on several cameras (believe the first camera is very close to the fire/zoomed in). Source - Cal Fire Scanner

A wind-driven wildfire broke out late Friday in the rugged mountains above Big Sur, forcing residents to evacuate from their homes and authorities to shut down a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway.

Called the  Colorado Fire, it began around 7:30 p.m. Friday and, by Saturday morning, had burned 1,500 acres, including in parts of Palo Colorado Canyon, south of Carmel-by-the-Sea in Monterey County.

Numerous photos posted by evacuees on social media show burning flames behind the iconic Bixby Bridge. The concrete bridge spans the deep and wild canyon along the highway and has been the backdrop of many car commercials, movies, and TV shows, most recently the HBO drama “Big Little Lies.” 

Karl Mondon

According to Cal Fire, the blaze is 5 percent contained, and its cause is unknown at this time. Officials shut down Highway 1 in both directions from Andrew Molera State Park to Carmel-By-The-Sea, according to local reports. The American Red Cross was setting up a shelter at a middle school.

“Anecdotally, it seems as though the long term drought is acting like a chronic illness where even recent rains and cold winter weather isn’t helping to keep fires from developing,” the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office wrote.

“Pictures on social media suggest some pretty surreal fire behavior given the wet October and December that was observed across the region,” it added, according to SF Gate.

Mandatory evacuations are in place for residents living along Palo Colorado Road from Highway 1 east to Rocky Creek Bridge and Bixby Creek Road.

The American Red Cross has also opened a shelter for evacuees of the Palo Colorado area. The emergency shelter is located at Carmel Middle School at 4380 Carmel Valley Road.

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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

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