One fire that has charred more than 84 square miles in the Virginia Mountains near Pyramid Lake was about 41 percent contained on Wednesday. The blaze is threatening 2,000 homes and has prompted 300 residents to evacuate.
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Crews battling a deadly wildfire burning well into its second week near California’s Big Sur coast have carved buffer lines around a quarter of its perimeter, steering flames more deeply into the forest and away from populated areas, officials said on Wednesday. The jagged mountains, coupled with unpredictable flames, have made the firefight hard and allowed the fire to grow rapidly, fire officials said. The incident has also led to the death of a privately contracted bulldozer operator. The fire has burned 46 square miles and is 84 per cent contained.
Officials issued an evacuation order for Canyon Creek Resort, an RV, cabin and tent camping site, said Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant.
No vineyards in wine country are threatened and the fire is about 10 per cent contained.
Containment of the fires was estimated at about 40 percent.
On the outskirts of Los Angeles, crews had almost surrounded a 65-square-mile blaze that killed one man and destroyed 18 homes. Cal Fire says there are now 5, 522 personnel combating the fire, including a Strike Team from the Imperial County.
The blaze has charred more than 6 square miles since igniting Tuesday afternoon. Level 3 evacuations were in effect for 50 threatened homes.
Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman said he could not immediately provide details about the number of homes or buildings destroyed. About 350 residents have been ordered to evacuate the area, though some evacuation orders have since been lifted.
More than 1,400 firefighters are battling a blaze in southwest Idaho that has grown to 66 square miles and destroyed a state-operated backcountry structure.
Firefighters who deal with the most serious and complex fires have been mobilized to attack the fire.
The fire started on Sunday about 5 miles southwest of Hamilton and destroyed 14 homes along with dozens of outbuildings and some vehicles.
They are asking anyone with information to come forward.
The blaze continues to burn through a steep and rugged coastal terrain.
In addition, 57 homes and 11 other structures have been destroyed while some 2,000 remained under threat on Tuesday, fire officials said.
PG&E crews have begun repairing power lines and poles that were damaged in the fire, starting in Carmel-by-the Sea, utility officials said.
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Wildfires can be destructive and catastrophic for natural habitats and the firefighters tasked with containing them.
