Firefighters in California continued to battle multiple wildfires across the state on Monday, including one threatening pop star Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, his home in the mountains of Santa Barbara County.
The Lake Fire started Friday afternoon and by late Monday night had grown to 21,763 acres in the western Los Padres National Forest, where it consumed grass, shrubs and timber in rugged terrain. According to the US Forest Service,
The fire was 8% contained Monday night, but fire officials said the blaze could grow because of a prolonged heat wave that has reduced humidity in the area and produced strong winds. Although smoke was visible throughout the day from a fire burning on Figueroa Mountain, state fire officials said late Monday that there was no significant growth in the fire throughout the day. Most of the fire was in the southeastern part of the fire.
Over the weekend, firefighters on the ground had difficulty reaching the fire due to intense heat and challenging terrain, forcing them to use helicopters to prevent the blaze from spreading.
On Sunday, Santa Barbara County expanded its evacuation orders to include Figueroa Mountain Road, also known as the Grass Mountain Trail Head, and areas within Sawmill Basin, including Tunnel Road and the Figueroa Campground, according to emergency officials.
About 20 people had evacuated from their homes as of Monday morning, according to Jackie Ruiz, a spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management. The evacuation zone also extended to Sycamore Valley Ranch, formerly called Neverland Ranch, in Los Olivos. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
To the east, the Mount Baldy ski resort in the San Bernardino National Forest has been ordered to be evacuated after a fire there has so far burned more than 588 acres.
The Vista Fire was reported about 1 a.m. Sunday on a steep hillside about a mile from the ski resort and west of the mountain community of Lytle Creek. According to the US Forest Service. Portions of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Lytle Creek area to Mount Baldy have been closed, as well as additional trails below the resort. According to Nathan Judy of the US Forest Service, hundreds of people were evacuated from nearby recreational areas since the fire began, but residents of the community of Lytle Creek were still able to reach their homes.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Meanwhile, to the north, a A group of hikers were found on Monday after going missing in the area of a fire in the Tahoe National Forest.
Royal Fire near the Royal Gorge According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, 201 acres have burned since the fire was first reported Sunday afternoon along the north bank of the American River in Placer County.
Placer County Sheriff’s Department He said 13 hikers ranging in age from 16 to 20 were missing from the fire area after their vehicles were found parked at the Palisades Trailhead.
But the group was spotted by helicopter Monday morning, and a search and rescue team was ready to meet them and transport them out of the area, said Sgt. Ty Connors of the Placer County Sheriff’s Department. The hikers are reported to be in good health, according to authorities.
The area where the Royal Fire is burning is known for world-class kayaking and hiking, said Battalion Chief Nolan Hale of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. That also means the fire is in “a very remote area with steep, hard-to-reach cliffs and a lot of granite.”
To the north in Butte County, firefighters contained a wildfire. near the town of Auroville last weekThe Thompson Fire burned 3,789 acres and forced thousands of people to flee their homes as firefighters struggled in extreme heat and persistent winds fanned the flames. The cause of the blaze, which State Fire Officer The attack, which began on Wednesday, ultimately destroyed 26 buildings and damaged eight others, and is still under investigation.
In Siskiyou County, near the state’s northern border, Cal Fire reported a new fire late Monday. Fake fire The fire broke out in the 10000 block of Little Bogus Creek Road at about 4 p.m. By Monday evening, it had grown to about 200 acres, prompting evacuation orders, and was 0% contained, fire officials said.
At the same time, Siskiyou County is feeling the effects of the large Shelley Fire, which started July 3 and burned through more than 4,200 acres in the Marble Mountain Wilderness near Shelley Lake and the Pacific Crest Trail. Because of hot, dry weather and difficult access, the fire threatened communities, private timberlands, cultural resources and wilderness areas, officials said.
By Monday evening it was one of the largest fires in the state. Basin FireMore than 14,000 acres have burned in the Sierra National Forest. The flames did not grow further Monday, and fire officials said 80% of the fire was contained by evening. The fire started June 26, and the U.S. Forest Service said its cause is still under investigation.
