Firefighters defend a home as a wild land fire burns in the
Pfeiffer Ridge area in Big Sur, Calif. on Monday De.c 16, 2013.
BIG SUR, Calif. — A
wildfire burning Monday in the Big Sur area of California destroyed at least 15
homes and forced about 100 people to evacuate as it chewed through dry
vegetation on its way toward the ocean. No injuries were reported.
The fire burned about 500 acres in
the Pfeiffer Ridge area of Los Padres National Forest near state Highway 1, Los
Padres National Forest spokesman Andrew Madsen said.
"She left thinking that she was going to go protect other
people's homes," Madsen said, "and it turns out that her own home has
been consumed."
Officials were hopeful that they could contain the blaze
this week.
"This is a completely wind-driven fire," Madsen said.
"We're cautiously optimistic that we're going to pin this thing down
within the next couple of days."
The Red Cross has set up an overnight shelter for people who have been
displaced by the fire, Madsen said.
Big Sur is a popular tourist destination along the Central
California coast with high-end resorts and beautiful views of the
Pacific Ocean.
Residences were scattered in the path of the fire that was being
battled by 300 firefighters. Officials also brought in air tankers
and helicopters.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
A wildfire so late in the year is unusual but not surprising
given that California is in the midst of the driest calendar year
on record.
A lightning-sparked wildfire in 2008 forced the evacuation of
Big Sur and blackened 250 square miles before it was contained. That blaze
burned more than a dozen homes.
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