Colorado Fire 98% Contained: Cal Fire

BIG SUR, CA — Cal Fire officials said Monday that crews have reached 98% containment of the Colorado Fire, which has burned 687 acres over the past 10 days near Big Sur.

“Fire activity remains minimal, as firefighters continue mopping-up and patrolling the fire perimeter,” Cal Fire said in a Monday morning report. “Offshore winds are anticipated Tuesday. Crews continue fire suppression repair. Damage inspection has been completed.”

On Wednesday, the 500 people living near the fire area, near Palo Colorado canyon in Big Sur, were able to return home, and Highway 1 was reopened from Garrapata Creek to Point Sur. Just one structure was destroyed, and no injuries were reported.

That same day, a Cal Fire investigation found that the fire started due to hot embers from a pile burning operation that blew to nearby vegetation. No further details have been given on that operation.

The fire ignited the evening of Friday, Jan. 21 in the Palo Colorado canyon in Big Sur and quickly spread toward the sea, fanned by winds up to 50 mph. The blaze burned at least 2.3 square miles of brush and redwood trees, said Cecile Juliette, a spokesperson for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Authorities closed an iconic stretch of Highway 1 with no estimated time for reopening. The two-lane highway along Big Sur is prone to closures due to fire and mudslides from heavy rain made portions of the roadway collapse last year and in 2017.
Evacuees shared on social media dramatic images of flames burning behind iconic Bixby Bridge.

The tall concrete span has been the backdrop of many car commercials, movies and TV shows, most recently the HBO drama "Big Little Lies."

Strong winds were recorded across the San Francisco Bay Area overnight, knocking down trees and power lines and causing outages to at least 18,000 Pacific Gas & Electric customers in the region, the utility said.