Posted by Founder, Bicycling Monterey
California Wildfire Prevention—Camping and more
Below, grab links to resources on wildfire prevention, the 8 Aug 2026 Jack Peaks fire, the Aug 2026 Timber Fire in Big Sur, camping and campfire tips, and more.
Timber Fire
https://www.readymontereycounty.org/emergency/incident-archive/2026-timber-fire
https://bigsurkate.blog/
California has an increasingly long wildfire season.
See current fires: https://fire.ca.gov/incidents/.
Please help prevent wildfires in the Monterey Bay Region and elsewhere! Tips on equipment use, debris burning, campfire safety and more at
https://www.fire.ca.gov/prevention.
In addition to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)’s San Benito-Monterey Unit (e.g., regional-unit-forester-contact-list-June-2026), the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade, Mid-Coast Fire Brigade, and Cachagua Fire serve the area. For a list of other firefighting agencies in Monterey County, refer to the county’s website:
Camping and campfires
Are you bikepacking or otherwise planning to camp outdoors?
Camp only where allowed! (For example, camping is never permitted at Jacks Peak Park—that park is for day use only.)
And wherever campfires may sometimes be allowed, respect any and all campfire restrictions!
See Campfire Safety tips from CalFire: https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prevent-wildfire/campfire-safety/. See other tips for campers—research leads on Camping in Monterey County.
Jack Fire, 8 Aug 2026 fire at Jacks Peak Park
NOTE: Camping is not permitted at Jacks Peak Park (day use only). Wood and charcoal fires are prohibited, and smoking is also prohibited.
Please also respect that bicycling is not permitted on the Jacks Peak trails, only on the paved roads, which we wholeheartedly support.
AUGUST 2026: Thank you to Cypress Fire, CalFire, Hollister Air Attack, Gabilan Crew from Soledad Prison, Monterey County Regional Fire, Monterey Airport Fire, Carmel Fire, County of Monterey Sheriff’s Office. and County of Monterey Parks and Lakes Division for their rapid response in stopping forward progress of the Jack Fire near Jacks Peak Park on August 8, 2026, as reported by Ricardo Tovar for KSBW https://www.ksbw.com/article/vegetation-fire-jacks-peak-structures/73383874 and by Bryan Flores, chief of County of Monterey’s Parks and Lakes Division.
This post was published on 9 August 2026. One or more changes last made to this post on 27 August 2026.
