Big Sur Fire Chief Matt Harris was sitting inside his station smelling smoke before the building fire was reported. He and his colleagues saw a plume of black smoke and immediately began suiting up.
At 3:50 p.m. on Friday, May 3, a call came in that the Big Sur Bakery, a popular meeting place, coffee stop, and restaurant on Highway 1, was on fire. Within five minutes, two Big Sur Fire Department firefighters arrived from Post Ranch headquarters, located directly behind the bakery.
The response was quick, and so was the fire. “I was pretty involved at that point,” Harris said.
The fire threatened Loma Vista Gardens and the residence above the bakery, but firefighters were able to extinguish the fire to the bakery building and a shed behind the restaurant. Barely the outline of the structure remains.
“Damage is strict Firefighters at the scene were able to recover some business records, but nearly everything inside was destroyed, including furniture, art, and a wine collection.
The original Loma Vista property was founded in the early 20th century by John Pfeiffer, whose family developed Pfeiffer's Ranch Resort in 1908, which later became Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. According to the history of Loma Vista Gardens, Pfeiffer was “a quiet, introspective man who was an expert beekeeper who loved spending time alone with his beehives.” “No doubt he built 'Loma Vista' to get away from all the activity in and around his home where the resort operated.”
After Highway 1 was built in the 1930s, Loma Vista grew into an inn and included Big Sur's first gas station. The building that became the Big Sur Bakery was built nearly a century before him as an inn and diner as part of the Loma Vista expansion at the bottom of Post Ranch (now a separate hotel project is being built next door).
On May 3, firefighters also quickly addressed concerns about the proximity of the gas station between the bakery and Highway 1, but added an additional layer of protection between the gas station and the restaurant building. I was able to park the engine. “Our first task was to prevent the spread of infection to other structures,” Harris said.
Other businesses on the property, Big Sur Shell Station, Mother Botanical, Loma Art Studio and Gallery, and event space Loma Vista Gardens, were not damaged.
Responding agencies include AMR Ambulance (dispatched to all structure fires), U.S. Forest Service, State Parks, and California Highway Patrol. Eventually, the two Big Surfire firefighters were joined by his 10 other volunteers from Big Surfire.
Although most of the first responders at the scene were not firefighters, Harris said he gave them all work and helped stretch hoses around the narrow staircase. They connected to a fire hydrant right in front of them. “I put everyone to work,” he says. “They helped me extend the hose so I could refill the water and go to work right away.”
The fire started in the kitchen. The store was not open at the time, and no civilians or firefighters were injured.
The bakery had been closed to the public since March 30, when Highway 1 was closed to the public due to a slide accident. Owner Mike Gilson said limited work continued with recipe development and some small catering jobs. The plan was to reopen on Memorial Day weekend. At that time, Caltrans will install traffic lights at the northern freeway closure, allowing 24/7 access, and expects all of the company's approximately 15 employees to return to work.
“My biggest concern right now is finding ways to support our employees,” Gilson said.
“No one was hurt and the fire didn't spread. Honestly, I'm really relieved about those two things,” Gilson added.
The cause of the Big Sur fire is under investigation, and authorities plan to interview a witness who was in the kitchen at the time.
“This is a devastating loss to the community,” Harris said. “The business world has already been hit hard this year. This could not be a bigger blow to the industry. This is an iconic business.”
For years, this iconic business has been a place for locals and tourists alike to gather to purchase decadent pastries and coffee drinks to enjoy on the rustic deck or enjoy weekend brunch. In the evenings, the restaurant offers more upscale yet approachable cuisine, highlighting local, seasonal ingredients and the bakery's famous breads. (big sur bakery cookbookPublished in 2009, this book captures the spirit and philosophy behind the menu. )
Big Sur's business community has been hit by a series of events, including coronavirus-related closures that have affected restaurants across the region. But beyond that, intermittent landslides and road closures have plagued Big Sur businesses over the years, including a slide on the north side this spring that has effectively cut off access to Big Sur businesses since March 30. has had an impact on Public access by controlled convoys resumed on his Monday, April 29th, at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. (Enter/exit into Big Sur via Southern Highway 1 has been continuously closed since January 2023.
Big Sur Fire will be an additional liability because there is no highway ready for mutual aid agencies to access Big Sur to the area. The nonprofit, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, held a community open house event as scheduled for International Firefighters' Day on Saturday, May 4, the day after the Big Sur Bakery fire. “This just shows you how important it is for us to be there,” Harris added.
Gilson emphasizes his gratitude for the Big Sur Fire and its quick response. “Big Sur Fire showed up very quickly and handled business very professionally,” he said. “Big Sur Fire” [volunteers] They're heroes. ”
As for what will happen next for the bakery, Gilson said it's too early to know as they continue to assess the situation and sort out what the insurance claims process will be. .
“It's still early days, but time will tell,” he says.
