FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — A weeks-old Central California wildfire found new power and surged across a highway, forcing the evacuation of 1,000 people from their homes, authorities said.
Strong high pressure over the area will keep warmer and drier conditions over the blaze Wednesday and could pose a challenge to firefighters, even as a cooling trend continues in other parts of the state.
Sparked by lighting July 31, the Fresno County blaze tore through timber, brush and tall grass in the Sierra National Forest, growing to nearly 37 square miles. Evacuations were ordered in the Hume Lake area after the fire jumped state Highway 180.
Photo Credit: Fresno Co. Sheriffs Dept.
About 100 miles to the southwest, a fire threatened 339 homes in Santa Margarita as crews worked to douse wind-driven embers and hot spots.
Despite the threat, the blaze was mainly burning within areas bounded by fire retardant. The biggest threat to homes was from spot fires that leaped over lines that had been cut to corral it, fire spokesman Bennet Milloy said.
“A lot of the smoke is laying low to the ground. It’s really smoky and ashy, watching embers kind of skirt across the burned areas of the ground,” Milloy said.
At 3 square miles, the fire was only 10 percent contained.
About 800 people remain evacuated from the small town near U.S. 101 in San Luis Obispo County.
Marilyn Oedekerk and Gina Travelstead were evacuated from a trailer park in Santa Margarita Monday evening.
“It was raining ashes on us,” Travelstead told the San Luis Obispo Tribune (http://bit.ly/1hLkbyP ) as she sat on a cot at a shelter with her toy poodle, Sally.
Travelstead said she was terrified when she was told to evacuate.
“You’re shakin’ in your boots even though you’re not wearing boots,” she said.
Progress was reported on many of the state’s other active fires. More than 440 California National Guard soldiers joined the firefighters this week, and thousands more were being trained, according to Cal Fire’s Mike Mohler.
