Bulldozer operator killed fighting California blaze
the threat of flames forced the closure of state parks near Big Sur, a popular tourist area.
At least 2,000 structures were threatened.
Firefighters got a break early Wednesday from cooler temperatures and increased humidity.
Pacific Coast Highway remained open Wednesday, but its signature views were marred by a dark haze.
The blaze could crest a ridge and make a run toward campgrounds, lodges and redwoods closer to the shore, officials said.
To the south, firefighters made progress containing a huge blaze in mountains outside Los Angeles, allowing authorities to let most of 20,000 people evacuated over the weekend return home.
The fire has destroyed 18 homes since it started and authorities found the burned body of 67-year-old Robert Bresnick on Saturday in a car and said he had refused to be evacuated.
The fire in rugged wilderness between the northern edge of Los Angeles and the suburban city of Santa Clarita grew slightly to nearly 60 square miles. It was 40 percent contained.
Firefighters expected temperatures to reach about 100 degrees on Wednesday with winds gusting to near 25 mph.
The Big Sur closures were put into place for parks that draw 7,500 visitors a day from around the world for their dramatic vistas of ocean and mountains.
The fire started Friday north of Big Sur and was just 10 percent contained. Residents of 300 homes were ordered to evacuate and more than 2,000 firefighters were trying to douse the blaze.
Meanwhile in Wyoming, a large backcountry wildfire in the Shoshone National Forest put about 290 homes and guest ranches at risk. It burned nearly 11 square miles (28 square kilometers) and forced the evacuations of 900 people, but no homes had burned by Tuesday, authorities said.