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Wildfire sparks in Big Sur, closes Highway 1

At 1,500 acres as of Saturday morning
California Wildfire
Nic Coury/AP
The Colorado Fire burns along below Rocky Creek Bridge on Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
California Wildfire
California Wildfire
Posted at 12:26 PM, Jan 22, 2022
and last updated 2022-01-22 15:26:09-05

BIG SUR, Calif. — BIG SUR, Calif. (AP) — A wind-driven wildfire in coastal California has forced evacuations in the sparsely populated Big Sur area. The fire broke out Friday night in a canyon. Pushed by strong winds, it jumped Pacific Coast Highway and burned toward the sea. Fire officials say they have contained at least 5% of the 1,500-acre blaze. Authorities also shut a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway, including Bixby Bridge, the iconic concrete bridge that has been featured in car commercials, movies and TV shows. Strong winds were recorded across the San Francisco Bay Area and a swath of the Sierra Nevada overnight, knocking down trees and power lines and causing outages in numerous neighborhoods.

According to Caltrans, the highway is closed near the entrance to Andrew Molera State Park in Big Sur to Rio Road in Carmel.

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WILDFIRE RESOURCES

ASSEMBLE AN EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT

Put together your emergency supply kit long before a wildfire or other disaster occurs and keep it easily accessible so you can take it with you when you have to evacuate.

Emergency Supply Kit Checklist:

  • Face masks or coverings
  • Three-day supply of non-perishable food and three gallons of water per person
  • Map marked with at least two evacuation routes
  • Prescriptions or special medications
  • Change of clothing
  • Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses
  • An extra set of car keys, credit cards, cash or traveler’s checks
  • First aid kit
  • Flashlight
  • Battery-powered radio and extra batteries
  • Sanitation supplies
  • Copies of important documents (birth certificates, passports, etc.)
  • Don’t forget pet food and water!

Items to take if time allows:

  • Easily carried valuables
  • Family photos and other irreplaceable items
  • Personal computer information on hard drives and disks
  • Chargers for cell phones, laptops, etc.

Always keep a sturdy pair of shoes and a flashlight near your bed and handy in case of a sudden evacuation at night.