Evacuations were ordered Saturday as a fast-moving brush fire threatened about 1,000 homes in the northern Big Sur area of Monterey County, state officials reported. About 300 firefighters are at the scene, and an evacuation center has been established at Carmel Middle School for Palo Colorado residents. Firefighters are dealing with dry, warm conditions; strong winds; and steep, rugged terrain as the fire burns south toward the community of Palo Colorado, where homes were evacuated. The Soberanes fire began Friday morning in Garrapata State Park about five miles south of Carmel, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Pangburn said wind gusts up to 70 mph Friday along the ridges caused the fire to break through containment lines.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 23, 2016 18:14 UTC