Firefighters scrambled to battle back the fast-moving Plaskett Fire as it exploded to more than 8,200 acres early Saturday evening, threatening homes in scenic Big Sur.
The blaze remained 0% contained after growing more 2,000 acres from the morning.
Monterey County leaders are asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare an emergency and bring more resources to the firefight.
“That would help us get more resources to this fire,” Monterey County Supervisor Kate Daniels told KSBW. “I think, in my opinion, it qualifies as an emergency. I think an emergency should be declared.
Hotter, drier weather and afternoon winds fuled the fire, with officials preparing for winds to shift northeast overnight.
The blaze remained active Saturday around Jade Cove, where crews were strengthening fire lines near South Coast Road and checking a roughly 2-acre area where flames crossed a fire line.
Firefighters are focused on protecting homes along Plaskett Ridge Road and Los Burros Road, clearing brush, preparing buildings, laying hose and positioning engines nearby.
Crews are also burning vegetation between the main fire and homes and cooling hot spots along the fire’s edge.
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Helicopters and air tankers were dropping water when conditions allow.
At least one structure has been reported destroyed, according to the USForest Service firefighters.
Firefighters called it an outbuilding, according to KSBW.
Highway 1 has also been shut down for nearly 54 miles, from south of the Little Sur River at Mile Marker 56 to south of Salmon Creek at Mile Marker 2.1.
The southern closure point was moved from Mile Marker 10.1 near Gorda to Mile Marker 2.1, extending the shutdown by about 8 miles.
The highway will remain closed until further notice.
Evacuation orders are in effect for MRY-F034, MRY-F035, MRY-F036, MRY-F037, MRY-G012-A and MRY-G016.
Officials say anyone who needs extra time to evacuate, along with people with pets or livestock, should leave now.
The wildfire surged as the nearby Timber Fire had grown to nearly 25,000 acres as of early Saturday evening.
