Monterey County Fire [MAP]: Blaze Grows to More Than 11,000 Acres, Destroys Homes; Evacuation Launched
A Monterey County wildfire has turned into a powerful blaze that has destroyed more than 11,000 acres since Sunday. Residents in nearby areas were told to evacuate as the Soberanes fire moved south toward the Carmel Highlands. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the fire is only 5 percent contained.
Houses and Buildings Destroyed, Evacuations Launched
Reports say that around six houses as well as two outbuildings were burned to the ground by the fire. Thousands of lives and properties are still threatened by the out-of-control blaze which started Friday morning in an area near Garrapata State Park between the regions of Carmel and Big Sur. Residents found along Carmel Highlands were told to get ready to evacuate should the fire move in that direction according to Cal Fire authorities. The main evacuation site for residents is at Carmel Middle School located at Carmel-By-The-Sea.
Roads near the blaz,e including Palo Colorado and Weston Ridge, remain closed at Highway 1.
Thousands of Firefighters on the Scene
A total of 1,367 firefighters are on the scene doing the best they can to stop the blaze. Firefighters are trying to extinguish the fire before it reaches terrains near Santa Clarita that are inaccessible to ground firefighting equipment and crew. On top of these, firefighters are battling extreme temperatures, making it harder to stop the fire completely.
Terrible Weather Conditions for the Week Ahead
High temperatures and high humidity bring dangerous weather conditions near the area of the blaze. Authorities say that this condition will further make matters worse for residents in the area and for firefighters that are trying to stop the fire from spreading.
This Monterey County fire is not the only brush fire in the state that is raising red flags. A sand fire at the Santa Clarita area has managed to eat through 20,000 acres of land and property in the area. There were also reports of a death, but authorities are investigating the cause as the body was found in an SUV near a home inside the fire zone.
Map of Fire
The extent of the Monterey County wildfire covers San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles County, San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley. A hazardous weather announcement has been released by the National Weather Service and is effective until July 24, 2016.
