The popular tourist attraction Hearst Castle remains closed because of its proximity to the flames.
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However, tourists were still allowed to visit the park during the summer season.
Colligan noted that the castle is packed with “priceless, irreplaceable items”.
Fire spokesman Brad Pitassi says evacuation orders for Wrightwood went from mandatory to advisory Saturday afternoon.
For generations of movie buffs, the castle grounds are significant as the inspiration for the fictional Xanadu estate in the 1941 film classic “Citizen Kane“, starring Orson Welles as a self-made mogul and politician loosely based on Hearst. Colligan said that if the marble on the property were to become darkened by soot, museum curators have a cleaning process and would be able to restore it.
Hearst Castle workers joined the effort to save the hilltop mansion, built by the late newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst. It is now a museum that houses Hearst’s massive art collection.
Fire officials say crews have made progress in securing fire lines and protecting structures.
“We really don’t expect the fire to really come any closer than it has with the fire lines that have been cut”, he said.
One technique firefighters are using to help protect the historic landmark is called a firing operation.
The road was expected to remain closed Tuesday as firefighters cleared debris and burned trees that might pose a hazard, he said.
Forest Service and fire officials have asked for the public’s help as they search for the cause of the fire.
The Blue Cut fire, which has been raging since Tuesday, seems to finally be under control.
One week after it ignited west of Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass, the Blue Cut fire is completely contained.
Monterey County Park Rangers Associate members shot unbelievable video of the Chimney Fire while boating through The Narrows on the western side of Lake Nacimiento on August 20. The vacancy rate is more than 10 percent for some fire engine drivers, according to statistics provided to The Associated Press. It is 60 percent contained. Winds blew northwest Tuesday, which caused smoke to drift toward the south-southeast portion of the Chimney fire.
It roared toward the town of Wellpinit, forcing the evacuation of the entire town on Sunday.
“It’s not like going down the street in Los Angeles”, he added.
People who reside in the 1,898 homes threatened by the fire have been evacuated.
The US Forest Service, which is part of the US Department of Agriculture, was established to manage America’s 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands. According to a prior news release 105 homes and over 200 out buildings were destroyed by the fire.
A bulldozer driver who was a private contractor helping firefighters contain the blaze died in the fire and three other people have been injured. Drought conditions in California have left plenty of fuel for wildfires.
The fire has destroyed 34 homes and 14 other buildings.
The 23,546-acre Rey fire burning in Santa Barbara County was 20% contained Monday. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said 11 structures were destroyed, a figure that includes homes, garages and outbuildings. The 19,629-acre Cedar fire burning in Kern and Tulare counties was 5% contained. The blaze was sparked by an illegal campfire.
About 2,000 firefighters are assigned to the blaze. Combined, the wildfires have charred more than 500,000 acres (200,000 hectares), the agency said.
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This article was originally published at 9:50 a.m.
