CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE TO RAGE FOR ANOTHER MONTH, OFFICIALS SAY

BIG SUR, CALIF. A wildfire burning along California’s Big Sur coastline continues to rage on a week after it broke out, and looks to continue to be a problem for the scenic region for weeks to come.

Hundreds of anxious residents driven from their homes awaited word on their properties and popular parks and trails closed at the height of tourist season because of the blaze, one of several large fires burning across western states.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said the fire has now spanned 124 square kilometres and is 15 per cent contained.

It has destroyed at least 41 homes and put at least 2,000 homes and other buildings at risk. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection estimated it will take until the end of August to extinguish it.

In addition, a 35- year- old father of two girls was killed this week when the bulldozer he was operating rolled over on the fire lines.