Felipe Molina hoses foam off the Big Sur Deli that was applied to protect the store from the Basin Complex Fire In Big Sur, Calif., on Tuesday, July 8, 2008. Some people were allowed to go back to their homes on Tuesday to see how their property was. The signs thank firefighters for the efforts in battling the blazes.
Members of the Platte Canyon fire crew, out of Bailey, Colo., take down hot spots in a wildfire-ravaged forest in Big Sur, Calif., Monday, July 7, 2008. Firefighters continued to fight the Basin Complex Fire in the Los Padres National Forest near Big Sur Monday as temperatures are expected to rise and drier conditions will move in, increasing the chances fires will spread.
Jose Escobedo, firefighter with the Glendale, Calif., fire department, gathers fire hose that was used during structure protection from the Basin Complex Fire in Big Sur, Calif., on Monday, July 7, 2008. Officials said crews were burning out brush between the fire's leading edge and Big Sur's famed restaurants and hotels and cutting more lines to block flames from creeping down from ridge tops.
Firefighter Brian Britton, of Ojai, Calif., throws flares onto a hillside during a backburn operation along Highway 1 in Big Sur, Calif., Sunday, July 6, 2008. Firefighters continued to fight the Basin Complex Fire in the Los Padres National Forest near Big Sur. Fires have burned more than 800 square miles of land and destroyed at least 69 homes throughout California in the past two weeks.
Firefighter Vince Felix yells out instructions as he burns a hillside with a drip torch along Highway 1 in Big Sur, Calif., Sunday, July 6, 2008.
Firefighter Brooke Grossini, of Santa Barbara Calif., hoses down flames during a backburn operation along Highway 1 in Big Sur, Calif., Sunday, July 6, 2008.
A hillside burns in Big Sur, Calif., Sunday, July 6, 2008.
Cattle graze on a hillside as a wildfire burns out of control in Big Sur, Calif., Thursday, July 3, 2008. The blaze near Big Sur was one of more than 1,700 wildfires, most ignited by lightning, that have scorched more than 770 square miles and destroyed 64 structures across northern and central California since June 20, according to state officials.
A wildfire burns out of control as the sun rises in Big Sur, Calif., Thursday, July 3, 2008.
A firefighter watches a wildfire burn out of control in Big Sur, Calif., Thursday, July 3, 2008.
A California Conservation Corps van passes by a roadblock on Highway 1 in Big Sur, Calif., as a wildfire burns, Thursday, July 3, 2008. The town of Big Sur was evacuated due to the fire.
Big Sur shopkeeper Kurt Mayer points to a nearby wildfire in Big Sur, Calif., Thursday, July 3, 2008. He refused to evacuate to protect his deli from the nearby fire.
A firefighter clears the road next to a downed power pole in Big Sur, Calif., Thursday, July 3, 2008. Several homes nearby were destroyed by fire.
Firefighters wait next to the well-known Ventana Inn and Restaurant as a nearby wildfire burned in Big Sur, Calif., Thursday, July 3, 2008.
Remnants of a house that was destroyed by fire in Big Sur, Calif., Thursday, July 3, 2008.
Remnants from the front door of a house that was destroyed by fire in Big Sur, Calif., Thursday, July 3, 2008.
A sign is posted at a vacant home on a vehicle about a liquid gel inside the black plastic that helps protects from fires in Big Sur, Calif., Thursday, July 3, 2008.
A wildfire burns a portion of house in Big Sur, Calif., Thursday, July 3, 2008.
Remnants from a house that was destroyed by fire on Wednesday in Big Sur, Calif., lies in ruins Thursday, July 3, 2008.
Bir Sur evacuee Peter Marshall waits just outside of a roadblock in his vehicle with one of his most prized possessions sitting in front seat in Big Sur, Calif., Thursday, July 3, 2008.