About 232 other structures, including Hearst Castle, remain threatened by the fire that has burned nearly 20,000 acres.
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About 300 people, majority campers, were evacuated from those areas on Thursday but they were allowed back into the campgrounds on Friday to get their belongings.
The Chimney fire has burned 24,096 and is now threatening Hearst Castle, Oak Shores and Christmas Cove.
The number of hand crews rose Sunday from 74 to 93 – supported by 297 engines, 43 water tenders, 14 helicopters, seven air tankers and 47 bulldozers – to fight the fire that started on the afternoon of August 13 just south of Nacimiento Reservoir, a Cal Fire spokesman said Sunday evening. But by constantly putting the fires out, more unburned brush is left to fuel the next one.
Local farmers helped firefighters build fire lines Sunday night.
According to the Hearst Castle website, the landmark which is generally open for daily tours and events is closed until further notice.
More than 3,500 personnel are now assigned to the battle for control of the Chimney Fire that’s burning in steep terrain west of Nacimiento Lake and as of Sunday evening remained at 35 percent contained.
The fire has destroyed 57 homes and 11 smaller buildings.
A separate fire in San Luis Obispo County, the Chimney Fire, meanwhile, is threatening homes in Monterey County and is burning near the Hearst Castle where newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst once lived, a fire spokesman said.
“We hope they appreciate they’ve put themselves at risk and essentially fire fighters at risk”, said Milloy.
Finney said that firefighters should be intentionally setting more so-called prescribed fires to burn off excess vegetation, or simply let some natural fires burn longer. “Really they kind of do a disservice to their neighbors”. Crews are expecting winds of up to 20 miles per hour, but the fire isn’t traveling especially fast, she said.
The fire has escalated to a top priority in the state, based on the number of threatened homes, which was listed at 200 on Monday.
The fire started Saturday at southwest of Lake Nacimiento in the Running Deer Ranch area. CAL FIRE San Luis Obispo reported Sunday on its Twitter feed that 150 homes were threatened and that some new evacuations were being “assisted by boat”.
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Hot weather continued to be an issue for firefighters with temperatures hitting the mid 90s on Sunday and more hot weather expected on Monday.
