Since erupting on July 22, the fire has blackened almost 46,000 acres (18,600 hectares), destroyed at least 57 homes and claimed the life of a bulldozer operator who died when his tractor rolled over as he helped property owners battle the blaze. The fire quickly spread across State Route 24 to Rattlesnake Ridge threatening.
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They are still trying to figure out who started the fire and are asking for information from campers who were in the area. Thus far, at least 57 homes and 11 outbuildings have been destroyed and a bulldozer operator assigned to work the fire line has been killed.
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The gradual but steady progress being made against the so-called Soberanes blaze comes as wildfire season in the western United States was reaching its traditional peak, intensified by prolonged drought and extreme summer heat across the region.
Just north of Los Angeles, a 65-square-mile wildfire in wilderness just north of Los Angeles was nearly fully contained and only active with isolated pockets of vegetation burning within a fire lines.
In neighboring Bridger-Teton National Forest, a fire that has burned about 45 square miles was 81 percent contained.
The origin of the fire was traced, through more than 100 hours of investigation, to the Soberanes Creek Trail, about two and a quarter miles east of Highway 1. It remains only 25 percent contained.
Nine structures, including four homes, have been destroyed, fire officials said.
Shelters have been set up for people as well as livestock from about two dozen evacuated residences.
The blaze has burned 15 square miles of federal, state and private land about 15 miles west of Cody since igniting Tuesday.
By October and November, the potential for significant wildfires is expected to be above normal in an arc of states from Texas to New Jersey. Authorities say some fences were damaged, but no homes have been lost.
Crews overnight got a bit more control over a stubborn wildfire in California’s Central Valley.
The fire zone totaled about 78 square miles Monday, said fire spokeswoman Jesse Bender.
The blaze has destroyed three homes and is threatening another 400 northeast of Fresno as it heads into its second week.
Flames destroyed six houses and mobile homes, two vehicles and several out-buildings at historic Hardscrabble Ranch, according to Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal officials.
Containment of the fires was estimated at 41 percent, with about 800 firefighters in the effort.
The 4.5-square-mile blaze started Saturday afternoon in steep, rugged terrain.
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As winds blow the fire away from homes on the coast, it drives it deeper into remote areas of Los Padres National Forest.
