The Colorado fire burns along Highway 1 near Big Sur, California on January 22, 2022.
Highlight
- On January 22, firefighters were battling a wildfire that had spread through the rugged mountains along Big Suri.
- It forced hundreds of residents to evacuate on this precarious stretch of California coast
- The fire broke out in a steep valley on Friday night and quickly spread to the sea
Firefighters battled wildfires in the rugged mountains along Big Sur on Saturday, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate on this precarious stretch of California coast and forcing officials to close its main road.
The fire began in a steep valley Friday night and quickly spread to the sea with strong winds at 50 mph (80 kph). California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Cecil Juliet said at least 2.3 square miles (6 square kilometers) of brush and redwood trees were burned in the fire.
“The fire was stacked with wind and terrain and it gave the fire a lot of energy to make a big run,” she said on Saturday.
Read also: Hundreds of homes burned in Colorado wildfire, forcibly evacuated
Officials contacted about 500 residents, urging them to evacuate the sparsely populated area between Carmel and Big Sur. More than 250 firefighters from several agencies and volunteer groups extinguished 5% of the fire with the help of water drop aircraft.
“The winds have stopped and it has worked in our favor,” she said.
Officials closed a section of Highway 1 without an estimated time to reopen. The two-lane highway along Big Sur is at risk of closure due to fire and mud due to road collapses due to heavy rains last year and 2017.
People shared dramatic photos of the flames behind the iconic Bixby Bridge on social media. The tall concrete span has been the background of many car commercials, movies and TV shows, most recently the HBO drama “Big Little Lies.”
The utility said strong winds were recorded overnight in the San Francisco Bay Area, uprooting trees and power lines and causing damage to at least 18,000 Pacific Gas and Electric customers. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
In Sonoma County, firefighters extinguished a 5-acre fire at Geyser Peak, where gusts of more than 90 mph (145 kph) were recorded. In the Sierra Nevada, winds near the summit of Kirkwood Mountain Resort topped 141 mph (226 kph), forcing the closure of several ski lifts.
In Southern California, a peak speed of 90 mph (144 kph) was recorded in the mountains east of Santa Clarita. Strong winds blew across the area, causing trees and power lines to fall.
The National Weather Service said a similar wind event occurred in the Bay Area about a year ago. An extreme fire hazard warning was issued due to strong winds and more dry conditions.
This time around, the region got respite from the December storms, which brought heavy snow to the mountains and partially refilled dry reservoirs.
However, Juliet said winds quickly dried up vegetation weakened by prolonged droughts and low humidity levels.
“It’s unusual to have a fire of this size here on the coast in late January,” she said. “The fact that we had fires of this size is a matter of great concern.”
The cause of the fire was being investigated.
Read also: Thousands of trees to be removed after wildfires in California
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