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Fires Continue to Scorch Large Areas of California

Posted on: Thursday, 3 July 2008, 00:45 CDT

Raging wildfires forced the remaining residents of Big Sur, California to leave their homes on Wednesday.

The fire in Big Sur is one of more than 1,100 currently raging across the state. Residents of the coastal community were prompted to leave the fire when it crossed a fire line and was threatening more homes. Sherriff’s deputies told residents they needed to be out of the area by late afternoon.

"The fire is just a big raging animal right now," said Darby Marshall, spokesman for the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services.

Authorities have closed a total of 25 miles of the scenic roadway Highway 1, blocking access to popular resorts, restaurants, shops and art galleries that attract tourists from around the world.

Collectively, the flames have scorched 680 square miles and destroyed 60 homes and buildings across Northern California since June 20, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Most of the flames were ignited by lightning. The blaze responsible for damage in Big Sur started on June 21 in the Los Padres National Forest. It was only about 3 percent contained.

The new evacuation notice means that all of the roughly 850 residents who live along the Big Sur coast from Andrew Molera State Park to Limekiln State Park have been ordered to leave, Marshall said.

Janna Fournier, a Big Sur resident for eight years, was heading back to her house to retrieve artwork and rescue her pet tarantula.

"I feel sad for the wilderness and the people who lost their homes," Fournier said. "We chose to live in a wilderness among all this beauty, so I know there's that chance you always take."

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, David Paulison, visited Big Sur on Wednesday.

"This is a very dangerous fire right now because of the wind and because of how dry things are and how early in the year it is," Paulison said in an interview. "If people evacuate like they're told to, we shouldn't lose any lives. ... My only concern is that people don't take it seriously enough."

Statewide blazes have destroyed 60 homes and other buildings while threatening to scorch thousands of others.

In Southern California, a fire in the southern extension of the Los Padres forest north of Santa Barbara prompted mandatory evacuations of about 45 people in the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains. Officials said that fire had burned nearly 200 acres of heavy brush Wednesday and about 200 homes were threatened.

Rough terrain in the Santa Ynez area hampered firefighters, said Santa Barbara County spokesman William Boyer. "It's mostly an aerial battle," he said.

Source: redOrbit staff and wire reports

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