Wildfire near Big Sur prompts evacuations, closes major highway, California
Featured image: Colorado Fire, California on January 22, 2022. Credit: CAL FIRE, David Hudson
The Colorado Fire near Big Sur in Monterey County, Palo Colorado Canyon, California has so far consumed 283 ha (700 acres) of land as is 35% contained, as of 04:25 UTC on January 24, 2022.
The fire started on January 21 in a steep canyon and quickly spread toward the sea, prompting the Monterey County officials to order evacuations for about 500 residents living areas West of 3 800 Palo Colorado Rd. to Highway 1 and south to Bixby Creek.
A stretch of two-lane Highway 1 near Big Sur was closed and there is currently no estimated time for reopening. This highway is prone to closures due to fires and mudslides caused by heavy rains.1
The Monterey County Health Department advised residents to boil their tap water due to potential water system infrastructure damage.
At least 1 structure was destroyed.
Colorado Fire, California on January 22, 2022. Credit: CAL FIRE, David Hudson
The fire was driven by strong winds affecting the entire state. NWS Bay Area station near Healdsburg Hills registered a wind gust of 155 km/h (96 mph) on January 22.
Cecile Juliette, a spokesperson for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said it's unusual to have a fire of this size here on the coast at the end of January.
"The fact that it's January and we had a fire of this size so close to the coast is of great concern. This just needs to get everybody's attention that there is no longer a fire season."
"We have fires all-year-round in California."
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
Air attack on the #ColoradoFire earlier this morning. Looks like helicopters have an ample water supply nearby…the Pacific Ocean. pic.twitter.com/EkLRhr6oL1
— Karl Mondon (@karlmondon) January 22, 2022
UPDATE: Highway 1 is now closed from Andrew Molera State Park to the Granite Canyon Bridge due to the #ColoradoFire. #Caltrans is patrolling the highway for rockfall and plans to inspect drainage facilities. Road info at: https://t.co/YfvdOSGQ3y@PIOJimShivers https://t.co/kfyHyB4sBI pic.twitter.com/4P2yS8AjmG
— Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) January 22, 2022
Rocky Creek bridge, video by Harmony
D’Angelo pic.twitter.com/Arqwgfwp4J— bigsurkate (@bigsurkate) January 22, 2022
References:
1 Colorado Fire Burning Along California's Big Sur Coast Now 35% Contained – NBC Bay Area
2 Colorado Fire Incident – CAL FIRE
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
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