In dry, windy West, crews target flames in several states
SAN SIMEON — Growing wildfires fed by windy, dry conditions have destroyed buildings and forced evacuations in central California, eastern Washington and elsewhere.
Crews in both states fought to contain the blazes Monday, with firefighters making headway in the Golden State while authorities counted at least 16 homes burned in the Northwest.
Here’s a look at major wildfires in the West:
California A growing wildfire in central California had charred nearly 50 square miles by Monday, while a destructive blaze in Southern California was mostly under control.
The blaze in San Luis Obispo County was threatening houses and only partially contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.
Residents of mostly rural homes near Lake Nacimiento were ordered to leave late Sunday. Several other nearby communities have been under evacuation orders for days.
The famed Hearst Castle was closed over the weekend, though officials said the fire was growing in the opposite direction of the popular tourist attraction built by media magnate William Randolph Hearst.
Meanwhile, a 58-squaremile fire that destroyed 105 homes in Southern California was almost entirely contained and all evacuation orders were lifted.
Washington Wildfires in the Spokane area have burned more than a dozen homes and forced evacuations.
One blaze west of the eastern Washington city had destroyed at least six homes and scorched more than 9 square miles by Monday morning, the Department of Natural Resources said.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said 11 structures were destroyed near the town of Davenport, a figure that includes homes, garages and outbuildings.
The fire jumped the Spokane River and threatened the small community of Wellpinit on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Residents were told to evacuate after the town lost power.
Another wildfire, south of Spokane near the town of Spangle, destroyed at least 10 homes and numerous other buildings Sunday, according to the Washington State Patrol.
A third blaze was burning on the northeast side of the city. That fire had scorched 250 acres, and officials said some homes were likely destroyed.
Wyoming The largest fire in Yellowstone National Park in northwest Wyoming grew to about 35 square miles amid windy, warm weather, but tourists could still visit the popular park during the busy summer season.
All the park’s main tourist facilities and roads were open Monday, although the fire was creeping toward a key road linking the West Entrance with the park’s interior.
The blaze has charred mostly remote forest between West Yellowstone, Montana, a border town just outside the park’s western boundary, and AP PHOTO BY the Madison Junction recreational area within the park.
The flames expanded by nearly 10 square miles Sunday. It’s one of four fires burning in Yellowstone, and warm, windy weather was expected again Monday.
Montana Authorities ordered people in a rural area of northwestern Montana to evacuate before dawn Monday after a wildfire doubled in size in one day.
The Sanders County Sheriff’s BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN Office told people to leave their homes outside the small town of Thompson Falls. Wind gusts of up to 40 mph were expected to blow across the dry, hot terrain, stoking extreme fire behavior.
Some 20 homes and other buildings were threatened, and other residents were told that the evacuation area may spread.
Some 317 firefighters are responding to the blaze, which grew by 4 1/2 square miles Sunday to nearly 11 square miles.