Popular campgrounds and hiking trails near Big Sur remained off-limits for the holiday weekend as fire crews continued their six-week battle against a blaze burning in the Los Padres National Forest. Federal officials said Saturday morning that with the Soberanes fire only about 60% contained, they were expanding a closure order to cover a swath of the national forest in Monterey County from north of Big Sur to the San Luis Obispo County line. The Los Angeles Times' annual celebration of Southern California’s culinary scene is taking place at Paramount Pictures Studios’ backlot this weekend. A 35-year-old bulldozer operator working with Cal Fire died in a rollover accident while working to extinguish the fire in July. Businesses along Highway 1 are generally open as is Hearst Castle, Big Sur Lodge, Point Sur Light Station and portions of Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park.

Source: Los Angeles Times September 03, 2016 19:49 UTC