BIG SUR, Calif. - Authorities ordered most of the remaining residents of this scenic coastal community to leave Wednesday because an out-of-control wildfire, one of hundreds in California, had jumped a fire line and was threatening more homes.
New mandatory evacuation notices were issued for a 10-mile stretch along the eastern side of state Highway 1, bringing the total length of the evacuated area to more than 25 miles, emergency officials said.
"The fire is just a big raging animal right now," said Darby Marshall, spokesman for the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services.
Authorities have essentially closed a 25-mile stretch of Highway 1, blocking access to popular resorts, restaurants, shops and art galleries that line the scenic roadway and attract tourists from around the world.
The blaze had destroyed 16 homes and charred about 82 square miles of forest since it was started by lightning on June 21 in the Los Padres National Forest. It was only about 3 percent contained.
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Some military (National Guard) troops have been deployed to help with fire fighting, but the numbers and equipment listings look pretty puny given the very large numbers of fires currently burning.
Los Angeles was talking 117F (47.2C) temperatures today, and no rain in sight. Hospitals are reporting very large numbers of people who just can't breathe with the soot from the fires mixed into the usual smog - even at some distance from any of the burn areas.