| |
| |
![]() |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SAN FRANCISCO - California's wildfires raged unabated on Friday, with an army of firefighters desperately trying to staunch the advance of flames as they headed towards more populated regions.
State officials said some 19,925 personnel were battling 60 active fires, which were among 1,800 blazes which have scorched nearly 521,000 acres (210,800 hectares) since being triggered by lightning a fortnight ago.
The focal point of containment efforts is a wind-driven blaze besieging the picturesque village of Big Sur, a normally bustling tourist haven around 120 miles (193 kilometers) south of San Francisco.
The blaze threatening the seaside town has swept through 65,393 acres of the Los Padres National Forest and was only five percent contained according to latest figures on Friday.
With a combination high temperatures, low humidity and offshore gusts fanning the fires, officials have said they are battling against a "perfect storm" of weather conditions.
Around 1,800 structures remain threatened in the Big Sure fire while a total of 19 homes had already been destroyed, officials said.
"We're still in a red flag (weather) warning for this area," Leanne Langeberg, information officer for the agencies fighting the fire said.
An estimated 1,700 residents have been ordered to evacuate from the region so far, while several luxury hotels and spa retreats have evacuated voluntarily to ensure guest safety.
Meanwhile, concern was growing Friday for another blaze edging closer to the southern Californian town of Santa Barbara, 90 miles north of Los Angeles, which doubled in size overnight to 5,400 acres.
The blaze near the town of Goleta has not destroyed any homes but has been designated a high priority fire and is threatening around 1,700 homes which have received evacuation orders.
- AFP /ls
|
