Dolan Fire

The Dolan Fire was a wildfire that burnt in Big Sur, California.

Dolan Fire
Location	Big Sur, California
Coordinates	36.123°N 121.602°W / 36.123; -121.602[1]
Statistics[1]
Total area	128,050 acres (51,820 ha)[1]
Date(s)	August 18 - December 31, 2020[1]
Cause	Unknown[1]
Buildings destroyed	14[2]
Non-fatal injuries	15
Map
Location of the Dolan Fire

The fire began at approximately 8:15 p.m. on August 18, 2020 and although the cause is officially listed as unknown,[1] there is currently suspicion that the fire may have been started by arson[3] and a man has been arrested in connection with the fire.[4] The man claims he lit the fire to hide five murders, but there are questions as to: his mental competency, whether the fire was deliberately set, and whether there are bodies at the location he claims.[5] On September 23, 2020, a judge ruled that he was competent to stand trial.[6]

The fire has burned at Fort Hunter Liggett,[7] along Nacimiento-Fergusson Road,[8] and forced the closure of many area state parks as well as a section of California State Route 1.[9] On September 8, 15 firefighters were injured, one critically,[10][11] when they were forced to deploy emergency fire shelters at Nacimiento Station.[12]

As of December 31, 2020, the fire has been fully contained. [1]