The Chimney fire, which had burned 31,644 acres as of Monday morning, was at least a mile east of the castle and moving north, away from the castle, said Kenichi Haskett, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
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The 37,101-acre Chimney fire burning near Lake Nacimiento in San Luis Obispo County was 35% contained on Tuesday morning.
Officials are still estimating they’ll have the fire fully contained by August 29, but the steep terrain and timber, chaparral and grass stressed by drought are challenging firefighters’ ability to control the lines, the spokesman said. A preliminary damage assessment found 105 homes and 216 outbuildings destroyed across the rural, mountainous area where large swaths of land have been blackened. Cal Fire reported Sunday that 48 structures had been destroyed and seven damaged.
About 82,000 people had to leave their properties Tuesday when the fire broke out 60 miles east of Los Angeles.
Residents of 7,000 other homes in the Cajon Pass area were still potentially in the path of the fire, which is burning in heavy brush, and they remained under evacuation orders, Lopez said.
“Minimal fire behavior was observed yesterday which allowed the completion of the containment lines”, said a press release.
Firefighters had a Southern California wildfire mostly surrounded on Saturday, allowing thousands of evacuated residents to return to their houses as another fire further north moved perilously close to the historic Hearst Castle, officials said. The 115-room estate (not including an additional 46 guest rooms) also features around 25,000 works of art and-during Hearst’s lifetime-an enormous private zoo.
“We hope they appreciate they’ve put themselves at risk and essentially fire fighters at risk”, said Milloy.
The iconic Hearst Castle, also known as San Simeon, is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the state, drawing millions of visitors each year, according to local tourism officials.
More than 10,000 firefighters battled wildfires Monday from California’s Central Coast to Sierra Nevada forests or mopped up remnants of destructive blazes beaten into submission up and down the state.
Though the threat has lessened, Haskett said, firefighters remain at the site and “will continue to keep the fire at bay from the Hearst Castle”.
Cooler temperatures, rising humidity and diminished winds were expected to help crews gain some ground on Monday, as firefighting reinforcements arrived in the area, said Jeff Sevigney, a spokesman for the Washington State Patrol.
A spate of fires throughout the U.S. state of California have left people displaced and thousands of square kilometres of vegetation destroyed. “Eventually, it will run out of things to burn and we’ll get the fire out”. Although the evacuation orders were lifted, San Bernardino County remained under a smoke advisory. The fire has burned more than 26 square miles and is 33 percent contained.
Officials are urging any residents who still have not evacuated the area to do so immediately due to increasing fire activity.
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A almost monthlong blaze burning near California’s scenic Big Sur area is not expected to be fully contained until the end of September. The fire has destroyed 57 homes and charred 133 square miles, Cal Fire said.
