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Evacuations as fire rages

2008-07-03 09:17

A helicopter drops water on the fire in Big Sur, California. (Orville Myers, AP)

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California - Authorities ordered the remaining residents of this scenic coastal community to leave on Wednesday because an out-of-control wildfire, one of hundreds in California, had jumped a fire line and was threatening more homes.

Flames raged in the hills above and ash fell from orange skies as evacuees in packed cars streamed north along Highway 1, the only major road out of Big Sur. Sheriff's deputies told residents they needed to leave the area by late afternoon.

The blaze near Big Sur is one of more than 1 100 wildfires, mostly ignited by lightning, that have scorched 1 761 square kilometres and destroyed 60 homes and buildings across northern and central California since June 20, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

New mandatory evacuation notices were issued on Wednesday for a 26km stretch along Highway 1. Authorities have closed a total of 40.23km of the scenic roadway, blocking access to popular resorts, restaurants, shops and art galleries that attract tourists from around the world.

The blaze had destroyed 16 homes and charred about 210 square kilometres of forest since it was started by lightning on June 21 in the Los Padres National Forest. It was only about three 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.

Helicopters hauling large containers of water droned loudly overhead as Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger and the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, R David Paulison, visited Big Sur on Wednesday.

'People don't take it seriously enough'

"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. "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."

Drought, heat and lightning storms have contributed to the wildfires across the state in the past two weeks. The blazes have destroyed 60 homes and other buildings while threatening thousands more, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Federal fire managers predict an increase in severe wildfire activity in northern California through October due to the unusually hot, dry weather and scant rain.

In Southern California, a fire in 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 81 hectares of heavy brush on Wednesday and about 200 homes were threatened.

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

Elsewhere, a wildfire threatened 15 homes and the Okanogan tribal bingo casino near Okanogan, Washington, and some residents had been evacuated, said Ron Bowen of the state fire marshal's office.

The blaze had covered 607 hectares - just over 5.18 square kilometres - and the state sent people and equipment to help Bureau of Indian Affairs firefighters, officials said.

- AP

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