BIG SUR, Calif. (AP) – A wildfire was fouling the summer season on a beloved and scenic stretch of the California coast, where smoke and the threat of flames forced the closure of state parks near Big Sur.
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The closures include Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Andrew Molera State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Point Sur lighthouse park, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, and Garrapata State Park, according to the Associated Press. Campgrounds were closed because of the dangers smoke could pose to visitors but could reopen soon if the blaze is held back by firefighters, Weber said.
But the fire, which had been increasing by about 10,000 acres per day since it broke out Friday, did not grow signficantly overnight and was at about 58 square miles Tuesday morning.
One person has died in the blaze, at least 18 homes have burned and 20,000 residents had been evacuated, according to fire authorities. More than 3,000 firefighters are now battling the fire, which is 25 percent contained. Torlakson, the state superintendent of public instruction, is acting governor until Gov. Jerry Brown who is at the Democratic National Convention with other top state officials, declared a state of emergency for the fire on Tuesday night.
A fire fighter is sprayed with retardant as a helicopter makes a drop as emergency workers continue to battle fire in the Angeles National Forest near Los Angeles, California, July 25, 2016. The move frees up funding and relaxes regulations to help with the firefight and the recovery.
For some Southern California resident like John Kim, returning to the area meant picking through the remains of his home, CBS Los Angeles reported.
About 10,000 homes were evacuated because of the massive blaze, dubbed the Sand fire. In Wyoming, a large backcountry wildfire in the Shoshone National Forest put about 290 homes and guest ranches at risk.
Winter said a female friend Bresnick was visiting was forcibly removed by firefighters as flames closed in on them, but Bresnick insisted on staying put.
LACFD Chief Daryl Osby had lamented the unwillingness of some residents to follow evacuation orders, saying some fire crews encountered residents while heading into the fire zone.
Antonovich said he will also introduce a motion calling for a report from the county fire department on its aerial resources – and whether the county needs to either purchase its own SuperScooper aircraft or arrange to lease one year-round.
Evacuations were still in effect for Little Tujunga Canyon Road from the Wildlife Way Station to Sand Canyon Road and Placerita Canyon Road.
“We wanted to see more of the ocean”, Newby said.
The Los Angeles County coroner’s office identifies him Tuesday as 67-year-old Robert Bresnick.
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The evacuated animals were housed in three or four locations, and the sanctuary will wait at least 24 hours before bringing them back.
