Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BIG SUR, Calif. (AP) — Crews are continuing to battle a massive wildfire that's threatening thousands of homes near California's Big Sur.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says the blaze north of Big Sur grew overnight to 59 square miles.
The wildfire has destroyed 57 homes and 11 outbuildings and is threatening 2,000 more structures. It's 15 percent contained.
More than 5,000 firefighters are battling the fire that killed a bulldozer operator working the fire line.
The blaze, about the size of San Francisco, has also scared away tourists who are cancelling bookings after fire officials warned that crews will likely be battling a wildfire raging in steep, forested ridges just to the north for another month.
Meanwhile, a fast-moving fire In central California has forced people to evacuate at least 300 homes on the path of the Fresno County blaze being fueled by hundreds of dead trees.
The 1,000-acre wildfire started Saturday afternoon, south of the town of Prather. The blaze is 5 percent contained.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
