Officials urge Monterey County residents to prepare now as Timber and Plasket fires continue

Monterey County officials urged residents at a community briefing to prepare now for possible evacuation as the Timber and Plasket fires continue. Commander Brandon Smith of the Monterey County Sheriff's Office said the response team is working daily with fire to determine when to move areas from warnings to evacuation orders and emphasized readiness: "Be prepared."

A county chief explained that the team uses mapped trigger lines — shown as blue lines on the briefing map — that, when reached, will prompt an evacuation order so crews and equipment can operate without hindrance. The sheriff said his "best ballpark guess" was "maybe 4 or 5 days" before any change in evacuation status, but he stressed that the fire is unpredictable and that times could change. Supervisor Kate Daniels urged residents to treat the current posture as a warning and begin preparations immediately, saying she is "your liaison" and offering direct contact information for residents who need assistance.

Officials outlined how residents will be notified: sign up at alertmontereycounty.org, use ReadyMontereycounty.org, or download the Monterey County Uconnect app (which has a Timber Fire button). Deputies and search-and-rescue teams will also knock on doors in areas being assessed and may collect basic occupancy information for those choosing to shelter in place. Organizers said the county website (montereycounty.gov) includes a red incident banner linking to maps, evacuation zones and shelter details.

The briefing emphasized household preparedness: county staff recommended planning for at least seven days of food and water, clearly marking addresses to aid door-knock notifications, and having an evacuation plan for family members and pets. Officials said they will continue daily public updates (typically around 1 p.m.) and will issue immediate notices if conditions change.