Crews fight Calaveras County fire

A quick-burning wildfire that ignited in Calaveras County on Sunday afternoon forced evacuations of nearby residences after it grew to 450 acres in a matter of hours. By 6:30 p.m., the evacuations were lifted, with the fire 15 percent contained.

The Willow Fire is one of 13 wildfires burning through the state, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The flames were first spotted east of San Andreas about 1 p.m., spurring mandatory evacuation orders of the Willow Valley subdivision and evacuation warnings along Old Gulch Road from Calaveritas Road to Rocky Road.

In Monterey County, evacuation warnings were issued Sunday evening for a section of the Pacific Coast Highway because of the Soberanes Fire, which has grown to 91,802 acres since it was caused by an illegal campfire in Garrapata State Park in July.

Authorities said a passing weather front was expected to bring increased winds through Tuesday, and residents in the area south of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and east of North Coast Ridge Road should be prepared to leave.

The Soberanes Fire is 60 percent contained.

Further south in Monterey County, the Bryson Hesperia area remained under evacuation order from the Chimney Fire, which began in San Luis Obispo County, destroyed 49 residences and closed Hearst Castle for a week.

The Chimney Fire has grown to 45,108 acres since it began Aug. 13 and is 60 percent contained. Hearst Castle is expected to reopen for tours Monday.