Wildfires grow near Carmel and in Southern California

Firefighters were battling a blaze that has burned 6,500 acres in the northern Big Sur area of Monterey County as of Saturday evening, causing evacuations and threatening 1,000 homes, officials said.

The fire began Friday morning in Garrapata State Park 5 miles south of Carmel. It grew to 900 acres by Friday night and continued to spread briskly Saturday, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials said.

An evacuation center has been set up at Carmel Middle School for residents forced out of their homes in the Palo Colorado community. An evacuation warning was issued at 4 p.m. Saturday for the Carmel Highlands community.

“It’s moving quickly,” said Lucas Spelman, a captain with Cal Fire. “We definitely have a hard firefight in front of us, and we’re continuing to bring more people from across the state until we get this fire completely put out.”

Garrapata State Park was closed Saturday.

More than 300 crew members were on the scene of the Soberanes Fire, which was just 5 percent contained Saturday evening.

On Friday, 70-mph wind gusts in the ridges blew the fire through containment lines crews had worked to build, officials said.

No injuries have been reported. No closures were reported on Highway 1 in the Big Sur area.

Meanwhile, in Southern California, a wildfire has charred more than 30 square miles in the Santa Clarita Valley area of northern Los Angeles County.

The Sand Fire consumed 20,000 acres by Saturday evening and was 10 percent contained. Heavy smoke and falling ash from the fire drifted into surrounding areas, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an advisory warning that air quality could reach unhealthy levels in some communities.

The blaze, which started Friday afternoon, has forced 300 people to evacuate. One firefighter sustained a minor injury.

Among the evacuees was the Wildlife Waystation, a 160-acre nonprofit animal sanctuary. The sanctuary hosts more than 400 animals including tigers, chimpanzees, lions and other exotic species.