"The Plaskett fire grew to almost 30,000 acres in just over a month, requiring thousands of personnel and costing over $74 million, making it one of the largest and most resource-intensive incidents in the region during this period."
The Plaskett wildfire, located 34 miles southwest of Big Sur in Monterey County, California, was first discovered on August 26, 2026. The U.S. Forest Service is the jurisdictional agency, and the cause remains undetermined. The fire rapidly expanded from 100 acres on the day of discovery to nearly 30,000 acres by September 4, 2026, with personnel rising from 55 to over 2,000. Containment remained at 0% until September 4, when it reached 19%, and steadily increased to 100% by September 30, 2026, while the estimated cost climbed from $750,000 to $74.44 million. Throughout the timeline, the fire behavior shifted from active uphill runs and torching to moderate flanking and eventually minimal creeping and smoldering as containment progressed.
Official source description: 34 Miles SW from Big Sur, CA
Minimal; Creeping; Backing; Smoldering
Good air quality. Outdoor activity is generally safe near this incident.
Nearest reporting station: King City. Source: AirNow.gov (EPA).
The fire is now fully contained and behaving minimally; however, residents should remain vigilant for potential flare-ups and follow any local advisories.
IRWIN ID: {C257FBA6-F90E-431F-9464-067E8FBF79D7}
Discovered: Aug 26, 2026
Cause: Undetermined
Managing Agency: USFS
Est. Cost to Date: $74,440,000
Coordinates: 35.9057, -121.4125
Other wildfires that have recently been contained or dropped from official tracking in CA.
The Plaskett Fire has burned 29,993 acres as of September 30, 2026.
Yes, the Plaskett Fire is fully contained (100%).
The official cause has been listed as: Undetermined.
The Plaskett Fire is burning in Monterey, CA.
Yes, as of the latest official update, the Plaskett Fire remains active.
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