Firefighters Mopping Up Wildfire Near Big Sur Coast

BIG SUR, Calif. (AP)–Firefighters working a wildfire near California’s Big Sur coast were strengthening control lines and mopping up hot spots Wednesday, authorities said.

Fire activity was minimal overnight, with higher humidity and light winds, Cal Fire said in a statement. Weather was expected to remain favorable through the day.

The Colorado Fire, named for the canyon where it erupted amid high winds Friday night, was 55% contained.

The wildfire ignited when an intentional burn of a pile of debris escaped, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jon Heggie told the San Francisco Chronicle that the pile burning appeared to have been on private property and whether the residents had a required burn permit was under investigation.

The fire erupted Friday evening as strong, dry, offshore winds raked California with damaging gusts. Investigators determined that the fire was caused by the winds blowing hot embers from a pile burning operation into nearby vegetation, causing the blaze, Cal Fire said Tuesday.

Since the fire began, winds have calmed and changed direction.

“The onshore winds have increased humidity along the coast,” a Cal Fire statement said. “Firefighters will continue strengthening control lines and mopping-up hot spots.”

Improved mapping on Sunday reduced the fire’s size to about 700 acres (283 hectares), officials said.

Named for its starting point in Palo Colorado Canyon, the fire triggered evacuation orders for about 500 people in the lightly populated area about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of San Francisco.

About the photo: The Colorado Fire burns along Highway 1 near Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)