Today’s priorities will be keeping the fire out of the Santa Lucia Wilderness, protecting the power lines and communication towers threatened by the fire, Cal Fire says.
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Meanwhile, a fire burning 100 miles north of San Francisco that has charred more than 39 square miles is 95 percent contained Wednesday morning.
A “structure defense group” used bulldozers to build control lines on the fire’s perimeter and other crews began a firing operation to burn the dry vegetation near the road in a controlled manner overnight.
Most of Kern County woke up to the smell of smoke in the air.
Anyone experiencing a cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, exhaustion, light-headedness or chest pain should stop outdoor activity and seek medical attention, health officials said.
The aircraft are required to quit flying a half-hour before sunset.
Bennet Milloy, a Cal Fire public information officer, said the evacuation put into place Monday afternoon will remain through Wednesday. The fire remained active over the night with down canyon winds and isolated torching. Fire officials say those fires, along with a fire along Highway 41 that started shortly after, and another in Santa Barbara County near Buellton that broke out earlier in the day, were all caused by one vehicle.
A combination of steep terrain, hot weather and moderate winds, as well as extreme drought conditions, mean spot fires in the Santa Margarita area also are possible. Hwy 58 south of the railroad tracks in the Santa Margarita area & all of Miller Flats in SLO Co.
“So we have to be ready and mobilize our resources as soon as that happens”, he said. “And there’s really nothing in that area”.
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Fire crews made good progress through the night on line construction on the north eastern edge of the fire. Periodic northerly winds ushered the flames toward town, and a hillside between Highway 101 and town became consumed with smoke and flames during the course of an hour.
