Big Sur Braces For Raging Calif. Wildfires

Firefighters Prepare To Help Save Historic Town From 1,000 Fires Occurring In Northern Part Of State

(CBS/AP)  Firefighters bulked up their defenses Friday against a wildfire that threatened parts of this storied tourist town and prepared for more lightning strikes that could ignite new fires across Northern California.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asked President Bush on Friday for a federal emergency declaration to free up more aid, saying the fires this season had burned 265,000 acres, or more than 400 square miles.

The Los Angeles Times reports approximately 1,100 fires burned in the region between San Jose and the Oregon border after thunderstorms sparked the blaze seven days ago. The Los Padres National Forest lost about 134 square miles to the burning of two fires, moving as close as one mile away from the legendary and historic Pfeiffer Big Sur National Park

Thousands remain evacuated from their homes as firefighters work to prevent widespread property damage, the Los Angeles Times reports. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reports 18 homes have been destroyed in the last week. Six major highways also remain closed in the area.

Firefighters rushed to protect about 575 threatened homes and historic structures in the Big Sur area. They allowed the fire to rage nearly unchecked through steep mountain forests, where flames torched massive redwoods and sent them toppling.

"This is not going away anytime soon," said Mark Savage, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service.

Low humidity did little to slow the fire overnight, and noticeably hotter weather was forecast for Friday afternoon.

Overnight, firefighters reinforced their fire lines near homes and businesses in the area, moving in heavy engines and more personnel, said Curtis Vincent, a spokesman for the Los Padres National Forest.

The blaze was just 3 percent contained, but at least it was growing parallel to the coast - not toward inhabited areas, he said Friday.

The Esalen Institute, a retreat known for its natural hot springs, did not appear immediately threatened, but it canceled workshops through the July 4 weekend because of falling ash and poor air quality.

The hundreds of smaller fires in remote Northern California burned primarily in Humboldt, Shasta and Trinity counties. No people appeared immediately in jeopardy, though there are homes scattered through the forest areas, he said.

The fire count had gone up from 800 to nearly 1,100 because smoky air had hampered efforts to track all the blazes, said Jason Kirchner, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service.

"That's part of our problem - all of Northern California has been socked in for days, and aircraft haven't been able to see the ground," Kirchner said. Firefighters on the ground have provided most of the intelligence on new fires, he added.

Some 11,000 firefighters from 41 states are battling the blazes. Authorities put the firefighters on notice that they might be abruptly deployed to new fires expected to spring up with new lightning storms already under way.

"Our No. 1 priority is we want to stop any new, small fires," Kirchner said.

The fire has destroyed 16 homes and two outbuildings since breaking out Saturday, and officials have issued voluntary evacuation notices to residents in 75 homes along a ridge threatened by the blaze.

Dutch travelers Joost Ueberbach, 28, and Gemma Arts, 27, had wanted to drive through Big Sur on their way to Los Angeles from San Francisco when they ran into the roadblock Thursday.

"We knew there was a fire somewhere, but we didn't know the road was blocked," Ueberbach said. "We had hoped to see the nice views of the coastline. I guess it's just bad luck."

A popular area along the towering cliffs of the central California coast, Big Sur is also a destination for generations of American writers and artists.

Fire crews on Thursday beat back flames that threatened a small roadside library named after "Tropic of Cancer" author Henry Miller, who lived in Big Sur for many years.

Just down the road, firefighters maintained fire lines and doused flames near the home of Hal Newell, who'd been forced to flee five days earlier.

"I feel real glad to still have a place to live," said Newell, who has lived in Big Sur since he was born in 1938.

Fire crews from 41 states were helping battle the blazes that are darkening skies over the San Francisco Bay area and Central Valley. The threat of fire has already led communities across Northern California to cancel plans for Fourth of July fireworks displays.

In central New Mexico, firefighters worked through most of the night to make sure a wildfire that has charred some 3,500 acres in the Manzano Mountains didn't make any pushes to the south.

The lightning-caused fire was just 10 percent contained as of Friday morning, and some 400 people remained out of their homes near Tajique, a town southeast of Albuquerque.

[ubrew12]

I used to backpack in Big Sur. The view of the coastline from the coast mountains is awesome.

Maybe the Bible is Gods word. And maybe it isn''t.
but, can we all agree that nature is Gods work?

Thanks to Global Warming, we''re burning Gods work.

[lovesamerica]

ps, I let them sucx me in, I appoligize

[lovesamerica]

Excuse me, if you look at my earlier posts I was not on the religious romp. It is when I saw the others references to all the disasters to *** that I jumped in. I am sorry if I got on a high horse but I felt a need to shut him down.Read former posts and you will see my thoughts on the fires which are natural events ,like the floods tornados and all other disasters. I would no more meet that person than I would set myself on fire..bye, have a great 4th of July

[naucoming4u]

This is a story about a fire. Why don''''t both of you go to a diferent site or meet at a bar.

Posted by wernet2 at 08:42 PM : Jun 27, 2008
........

May I recommend the "Blue Oyster" bar for those two!

:-)

[wooleywews]

This is a story about a fire. Why don''t both of you go to a diferent site or meet at a bar.

[lovesamerica]

Oh and by the way, While I have no Organized religious beliefs, I have seen an angel, And I have the face of, I guess Jesus, In my home on a salt rock candle holder. I chose not to call the press and have hoards invade my home. I chose not to make money off something that while it would make me a lot of much needed funds, it would be wrong, in my parents twisted raising, to make a profit from a sacred message. I am no longer going to answer or comment to your posts as I believe you are also a klans memeber and a nazi surrounded by your twisted thoughts..

[lovesamerica]

Ok mcv57 now I know you are just a joke. hahaha.

[barbaraf4]

I don''t understand how and why articles on this board always end up being ignored so religion or politics ramble on to the point of nausea.

We all know which of you take a literal interpretation of the Bible, and we know who the rest of you will vote for in November.

So why don''t we take a few minutes to reflect on the damage being done to Big Sur.

[gce65]

Posted by gce65

If I lectured all night, you will still rebel and contradict. You don''''t believe in God, remember.

Posted by mcv57 at 07:25 PM : Jun 27, 2008
---------

Just as I thought: lots of opinion and no facts to back them up, not even from your own religious text.

You''re a phony and bigot. Off with you!

[mcv57]

... later. Read the Bible, then we can talk on the same intelligent level.

[mcv57]

If you would read the Bible, God''s only humor that he expresses in laughter is man''s arrogance in his own wisdom.

[naucoming4u]

Posted by NAUcoming4U

Another antheist.

Posted by mcv57 at 07:28 PM : Jun 27, 2008
..........

I''ve been called worse!

A lot worse!

[mcv57]

Posted by NAUcoming4U

Another antheist.

[naucoming4u]

No, if you go to college and get an education would not be asking me this question. 9/11 is Bush excuse to expand Nazis Economics.

Man, some people talk if they were born this morning.

Posted by mcv57 at 06:53 PM : Jun 27, 2008
...........

Well, well, we do have some opinions in common mcv57.

And though I have successfully completed (undergrad) college, it certainly doesn''t take a rocket scientist to realize Bush''s ultimate plan.

But with your biblical rhetoric about the California wildfires, I was just perplexed that someone of your geo-political intelligence would make such statements about the wildfires in CA, (of which there are plenty around the Western half of the U.S. at this time... not just in CA).

[mcv57]

Posted by gce65

If I lectured all night, you will still rebel and contradict. You don''t believe in God, remember.

[gce65]

"Sexx" and Christianity have nothing to do with each other.
------------

Posted by gce65

Obviously lacks an education in Theology.

Posted by mcv57 at 07:15 PM : Jun 27, 2008
--------

Okay, here''s your chance to put you theological education to work:
Tell me ONE instance where Jesus spoke of "sexxx" or placed any kind of prohibition on it. Tell me one instance he ever mentioned homosexuality. Remember, I''m asking about Jesus and not the old testament.

[gce65]

I love the infantile logic of the bible-thumpers and jesus-jumpers--when somebody you don''''t like gets hit by a natural disaster, it''''s God''''s punishment, but when heavily religious Kansas gets smashed by tornados, it''''s Satan''''s doing.

Bwahahaha!

Posted by gkc99 at 05:36 PM : Jun 27, 2008
___________

Not just Kansas, but the whole midwestern plains states, and all the states along the Mississippi river and all of the SouthEast...all "RED" Bush states.

I think God''s punishing them for electing the Antichrist as president! Ha!

[lovesamerica]

mcv57, What your life must be like I shudder to think. I realize after posting for awhile now that some just try to get a rise out of folks. As I was raised, tolerance, kindess,decency,truthfullness, hard work,honesty and love for all living creatures were the way to live,low, despite many things to make me think contrary, I still follow my parents teachings.I will not sell my beliefs to "get to heaven" And I have seen angels, the miracle of birth, the release of death, and the beauty of the natural world. I vol., I work hard, and as best I can I do not judge people. If that makes me a bad person so be it...from my angle you will get to He..ll alot fater than me. You give religion a bad name and you should stop your *** if you actually believe what you say...

[mcv57]

"Sexx" and Christianity have nothing to do with each other.
------------

Posted by gce65

Obviously lacks an education in Theology.

[mcv57]

Posted by gce65

What warped mind. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit "there is no forgiveness."