Fire officials said more than 300 firefighters were working the blaze. An aggressive air attack targeted steep ridges throughout the day as flames and smoke moved closer to homes.
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"I mean, it's everyone's worst nightmare," said Shelby Hawthorne, a Big Sur resident whose home is within the evacuation zone.
CAL FIRE said more than 200 homes and businesses have been evacuated. Many residents sought refuge at nearby shops and restaurants while waiting for updates on the fire's progress.
Hawthorne said the uncertainty has been difficult for those forced to prepare for possible evacuation.
"I mean, our house is literally right behind here, so, It's scary. You don't know, it's out of your control. So you're just here collecting the things you care about and your animals and, then seeing how long you can stay at your house. And if it gets too bad, you leave," Hawthorne said.
Residents and visitors described dramatic conditions as the fire burned along nearby ridgelines.
"You can see the fire on the on the ridgeline, and then, there's just fire trucks everywhere. The sky, it turns orange, and then, the sun, you can barely see it," said Sam Natividad, a San Jose resident.
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Firefighters also faced weather and geographic challenges that complicated suppression efforts.
"Always in this area, our biggest concerns are dry fuels, terrain, one way access, small roads, everyone who lives here is familiar with how this looks," said Adrienne Freeman, a spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service.
Local residents said they are worried about the potential impact if the fire reaches populated ridges throughout the region.
"There's a lot of people that live up on ridges. A you drive along here, you don't see a lot of houses, but there's a lot of ridges that have maybe 30 plus homes on each ridge. And so, it's just the idea that if it gets up on these ridges and it destroys our community," Hawthorne said.
The fire is burning near several well-known hotels and restaurants along Highway 1, including Ventana, Post Ranch Inn and Nepenthe, but CAL FIRE says there has been no damage to buildings so far.
Limited access remains available along Highway 1, but CAL FIRE is asking the public to stay away from the area as firefighting efforts continue.
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