California wildfires spread
August 15th, 2009 - 7:21 am ICT by IANSSan Francisco, Aug 15 (DPA) Despite massive efforts by firefighters, two wildfires in California spread Friday.
A state of emergency was declared in the Santa Cruz mountains about 100 km south of San Francisco. The declaration will allow money and aid to quickly be put toward the firefight.
700 firefighters are working to contain the blaze in difficult to access valleys and canyons near the Pacific coast. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, at least 250 homes were in danger Friday.
More than 2,000 residents were called on to evacuate Thursday.
Tourists and onlookers shot photos of the flames and firefighting efforts from the scenic Highway 1.
The cause of the fire, which broke out Wednesday, remains unclear.
Elsewhere in the state, steep hills and deep gorges hindered firefighting efforts near Santa Barbara, where 150 homes were threatened by wildfires. 1,600 firefighters were working to combat that blaze.
In May, a large fire near Santa Barbara destroyed 77 houses.
- Wildfires scorch nearly 7,000 acres in California - Aug 16, 2009
- Firefighters work to contain California blazes - Aug 18, 2009
- Firefighters battle California forest fires - Aug 17, 2009
- Thousands flee wildfires in California - Aug 14, 2009
- California wildfire doubles in size, threatens 12,000 homes - Sep 01, 2009
- 'All hell' breaks loose in California wildfire - May 09, 2009
- California wildfire rages, only 5 percent contained - Sep 02, 2009
- US man catches fire while watching porn at sex shop - Apr 15, 2011
- One killed, dozens injured in San Francisco blast (Lead) - Sep 10, 2010
- More than 1,500 evacuated from California wildfire - Jun 13, 2008
- Wildfire forces thousands to flee in US - Sep 08, 2010
- Firefighters gain on California fire (Lead) - May 10, 2009
- Schwarzenegger declares fire emergency in Los Angeles - Aug 29, 2009
- Texas wildfires destroy more than 1500 homes - Sep 12, 2011
- Wildfire Rages Around The Town Of Bonny Doon In Santa Cruz - Aug 13, 2009
Tags: blaze, california wildfires, canyons, deep gorges, dpa, firefighters, firefighting efforts, flames, massive efforts, onlookers, pacific coast, photos, san francisco chronicle, santa barbara, santa cruz mountains, state of emergency, steep hills, tourists, valleys, wildfires in california