California’s central coast continued to burn Tuesday as the Soberanes fire was only 10 percent contained ― with no end in sight.
The fire, one of two major California wildfires raging out of control, has spread across more than 19,000 acres in Soberanes Creek, Garrapata State Park, and the area north of Big Sur since it began on Friday. The Sand fire in Southern California’s Santa Clarita Valley mountains has consumed more than 37,000 acres.
The Soberanes fire has destroyed 20 homes and threatens an additional 1,650 buildings, forcing evacuations from more than 11 communities in the tourist-heavy but sparsely populated region.
Multiple state parks have temporarily closed, including Pfeiffer Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer Burns, Garrapata, and Andrew Molera. More than 2,300 firefighters were working to contain the flames.
Intense blazes like these have become a familiar emergency in California, where roughly five years of intense drought and elevated temperatures have made forests tinder-dry. Cal Fire said last month it responded to twice as many fires in 2016 as in the first half of 2015, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“As temps increased so did fire activity,” Cal Fire information officer Daniel Berlant tweeted Monday, noting that there have been 3,753 wildfires since Jan. 1 that have burnt 203,953 acres.
Take a look below at photos and videos of the Soberanes fire:
Noah Berger / Reuters
A burned car rests in front of a Palo Colorado-area residence leveled by the Soberanes fire.
Michael Fiala / Reuters
The morning sun appears through the thick smoke caused by the Soberanes fire.
Michael Fiala / Reuters
Cal Fire Capt. Dan Bonfante monitors a burning slope in the evacuated Palo Colorado area north of Big Sur.
Noah Berger / Reuters
A burned bicycle lies in front of a Palo Colorado-area residence.
Michael Fiala / Reuters
Firefighters study a map on the hood of a truck.
Michael Fiala / Reuters
The morning sun appears through the smoke above a grove of redwood trees threatened by the Soberanes fire in the evacuated Palo Colorado area.
Noah Berger / Reuters
A small structure burns on Palo Colorado Road.
Michael Fiala / Reuters
Firefighting inmates with the Conservation Camp Program walk up a ridge in the Palo Colorado area.
Michael Fiala / Reuters
Cal Fire Capt. Dan Bonfante uses his GPS device while monitoring a burning slope.
Michael Fiala / Reuters
Smoke covers a house destroyed by the Soberanes fire in the Palo Colorado area.
Michael Fiala / Reuters
A car drives through the smoke on Bixby Bridge on State Route 1 north of Big Sur.
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