The Colorado fire started in Palo Colorado Canyon in the Big Sur region, according to the county emergency services office.
Evacuation orders are required for “all areas west of 3800 Palo Colorado Rd. to Highway 1 and south to Bixby Creek,” Monterey County officials said. It is not clear how many residents will be affected by the measure.
“The strongest offshore (northeast) winds have peaked and are expected to ease after midnight to dawn. Humidity should be higher by 4-6am. We need to watch out for some light southerly winds early Saturday morning,” the NWS said. in a tweet.
The Red Cross is helping with shelter at Carmel Middle School for those affected by the wildfire, county officials said in a tweet. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals also tweeted that it will provide emergency pet supplies at that shelter.
California suffered a severe drought last year, triggering a devastating wildfire season.
Recent heavy rainfall in the state has eradicated the highest level of drought and sharply reduced the level 3 out of 4 “extreme drought” from 80% of the state in mid-December to 1% this week.
Still, NWS says the drought is impacting fires, which it described as “stubbornly active” in a forecast Saturday.
“Anecdotally, it seems that the prolonged drought is acting as a chronic disease where even recent rains and cold winters… [weather] does not help prevent fires from developing,” said the NWS office in San Francisco.
Haley Brink of DailyExpertNews contributed to this report.