The Timber Fire continues to expand into wilderness areas in the northerly and easterly directions, away from Big Sur, and the fire has reached 25% containment.

The Timber Fire, which broke out August 8 in Los Padres National Forest, expanded considerably between Saturday and Sunday, from 8,665 acres to 12,616 acres, though there was little change between Sunday and Monday.

As Cal Fire explains, "This increase in acreage is due to the fuel moisture being critically low, warmer temperatures, low relative humidity, and terrain driven fire activity." The fire expanded up mountain slopes and further into the Ventana Wilderness, with the eastern side of the fire seeing very hot, dry conditions during the day while the western edge of the fire has seen a persistent marine layer and more moist conditions by the coast.

Much of the established containment line around the fire appears to be on the southern and western sides, protecting homes and businesses around Big Sur — none of which have been damaged so far.

Evacuation orders remain in place for a half-dozen zones, with evacuation warnings still in place for a 40-mile stretch of Highway 1, from the Big Creek Reserve Gate Cabin in the north to Andrew Molera State Park in the south.

As the Chronicle reports, the California Zen Center has canceled the remaining summer programming at the famed Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, due to heavy smoke and poor air quality in the area, and is evacuating all of its guests and most of its staff. While Tassajara has been threatened by multiple wildfires in the last two decades, the Timber Fire has not come too close, though it has sent plenty of smoke into the remote canyon that the monastery and retreat calls home.

After the evacuation order zones expanded over the weekend, Tassajara is now in an evacuation zone.

Highway 1 has reopened to to traffic, as KSBW reports, but because of the evacuation warning in place, drivers are urged to use caution and find alternate routes.

The cause of the Timber Fire remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, a massive fire, the Hawk Fire, which is said to be human-caused, is threatening the entire city of Reno, after beginning on Saturday near California-Nevada border.

The Hawk Fire very quickly grew to over 15,000 acres in just 48 hours, with more growth expected over the next two days, and it is 0% contained. As the Reno Gazette-Journal reports, the fire has forced the closure of a section of US Route 395, and around 10,000 residents of Washoe County remain without power. Many businesses in Lemmon Valley and Golden Valley are closed due to the fire.

Tens of thousands of Burning Man attendees and organizers are preparing to head to the Black Rock Desert this coming weekend, with some already out there. Because of the evacuation situation and the high tension in Reno, the Reno Gazette-Journal notes that some organizers are urging Burners not to make pitstops in Reno if they can help it, and not to book non-essential hotel stays.

Burners are also being urged to fuel up before entering the Reno area if they can.