Out-Of-Control Wildfires Near Big Sur, Santa Clarita Threaten Thousands Of Homes
BIG SUR (CBS/AP) -- Wildfires burned out of control Saturday in mountains north of Los Angeles and near Big Sur on California's scenic Central Coast, posing a threat to 2,000 homes and a sanctuary for exotic animals that was being evacuated, authorities said.
SOBERANES FIRE
Cal Fire officials said a Monterey County wildfire that has burned 6,500 acres was 5 percent contained Saturday evening.
Cal Fire reported on Twitter at 6:19 p.m. that the 6,500-acre Soberanes Fire that started Friday morning east of Soberanes Creek is threatening 1,000 structures and has forced evacuations.
Evacuations got under way Friday night for residents near Palo Colorado Road.
Palo Colorado Road was closed, as well as Weston Ridge Road and areas around Garrapata Creek, according to Monterey County sheriff's officials.
An evacuation center was open at Carmel Middle School at 4380 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel-By-The-Sea.
Fire and law enforcement officials have also issued a warning to residents of the unincorporated community of Carmel Highlands to be prepared to evacuate if an order is issued.
Residents should be prepared to leave their homes immediately if the warning is upgraded to a voluntary evacuation order, according to Monterey County officials.
The fire started at 8:48 a.m. Friday and was first reported in an area about five miles south of Garrapata State Park, Cal Fire officials said.
About 1,650 structures are threatened and one has been destroyed. No injuries have been reported, Cal Fire Division Chief Jim Crawford said.
Firefighters are working to protect the threatened homes and contain the fire, according to Crawford.
Cal Fire spokesman Capt. Lucas Spelman could not provide an estimate of when the fire will be contained.
He said because of low humidity and the drought the fire is burning a large amount of dead trees and brush more quickly and hotter than last year, so it's taking a little longer to contain them.
SAND FIRE
Southern California firefighters toiled in another day of triple-digit heat from a dome of high pressure over the region. While Central Coast temperatures were more moderate, conditions included winds and low humidity.
The fire in northern Los Angeles County grew to more than 17 square miles, spreading smoke across the city and suburbs, reducing the sun to an orange disk at times. Containment was estimated at just 10 percent.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District warned that at times air would reach unhealthy levels. Suburban Pasadena and Glendale closed their municipal pools because of smoke and falling ash.
The fire erupted Friday afternoon in the Sand Canyon area of suburban Santa Clarita near State Route 14 as the region was gripped by high heat and very low humidity. Winds pushed it into the adjacent Angeles National Forest.
The fire was a threat to 1,000 homes by Saturday afternoon, and those communities were advised to pay attention to the news, Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp said.
"But if we were to get very extreme fire behavior, we're up to 45,000 homes ... mainly down in the San Fernando Valley," Tripp said.
Neighborhoods within the city of Los Angeles lie along the so-called urban-wildland interface at the northeast edge of the valley. Tripp said the Los Angeles fire chief was ready to join the incident command, and 15 strike teams were put on alert in case flames made a push in that direction.
Hundreds of county and Angeles National Forest firefighters battled the blaze, aided by three dozen water-dropping helicopters and retardant-dropping airplanes. Forest Fire Chief Robert Garcia said early in the day smoke kept aircraft waiting for the air to clear.
About 400 animals were being evacuated from the Wildlife Waystation, a nonprofit sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures within the national forest. A Bengal tiger was sedated and trucked away.
"We've got big cats, tigers, bears, we've got hyenas, we've got chimps," executive director Susan Hartland told KABC-TV.
The sanctuary's Facebook page appealed for donations of flatbed and enclosed trucks as well as an air-conditioned warehouse to house the animals.
Over many years, the sanctuary has cared for thousands of animals ranging from lions and tigers to primates and exotic birds.
More than 220 horses, dozens of goats and other animals were taken from the fire area, animal control officials said.
Metrolink train service in the area was halted Friday and on Saturday was subject to delays.
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