Firefighters are making steady progress on the Colorado Fire in Big Sur, reaching 35% containment as of Monday morning.
The fire started at 7:17 p.m. Friday on Palo Colorado Canyon Road in Big Sur and has burned an estimated 700 acres in the Big Sur region, according to a Cal Fire incident report.
The burn area has been reduced in the latest update after earlier estimates said the fire scorched more than 1,000 acres.
“Winds continue to create challenges for crews along the fire perimeter,” according to a Cal Fire incident report. “Seasonable temperatures are expected much of this week, and relative humidity values are forecast to increase Monday. Firefighters continue to strengthen control lines and mop up hot spots.”
The fire has burned for more than two days, with flames approaching the landmark Bixby Bridge in Big Sur near Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Bay Area News Group photographer Karl Mondon captured a photo of the fire in the backdrop of the bridge on Saturday morning.
The #ColoradoFire burns above the Bixby Bridge as dawn breaks in Big Sur. https://t.co/780SXnHe2P via @mercnews pic.twitter.com/MIUZmQJgRV
— Karl Mondon (@karlmondon) January 22, 2022
Despite the flame’s proximity to the bridge, it remained undamaged as of Sunday morning. However, one structure was damaged by the fire and more than 200 structures were threatened, according to the Cal Fire incident report.
Cal Fire has dispatched numerous resources to battle the blaze, including 286 firefighters, eight hand crews, 22 fire engines and three helicopters, according to the incident report.
Highway 1 remains closed from Point Sur (near Pfeiffer Big Sur and Andrew Molera State Park) north to Garrapata Creek near Garrapata State Beach, the incident report said.
Between 200 and 500 residents are under evacuation order due to the fire, according to the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services. The evacuation center is at Carmel Middle School.
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