Big Sur Fire
June 2008: A massive wildfire in the Los Padres National Forest was threatening the historic California town of Big Sur. The blaze broke out on June 21, 2008, and has consumed thousands of acres and destroyed at least 22 homes.1
Fast Facts
- Lightning strikes blamed for more than 800 fires in Northern California2
- July 6, 2008: Blaze known as the Basin Complex Fire had charred more than 71,000 acres near Big Sur3
- Nearly 2,000 firefighters were battling the fire4
- At least 22 homes destroyed in Big Sur area;1 nearly 1,800 structures threatened by the fire5
- Mandatory evacuation ordered for some Big Sur area residents on July 2, 20086
- Many residents chose not to evacuate and stayed behind to defend their homes7
- July 1, 2008: Blaze jumped a fire line near Pffeifer Big Sur State Park6
- Basin Complex Fire formed when Basin and Gallery fires merged8
- As of July 6, 2008, the Big Sur fire was only five percent contained4
- Fire threat forced closing of a stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway1
- Several historic structures were threatened; crews saved a library named for author Henry Miller9
- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called in the National Guard to help battle blazes1
- President Bush declared a state of emergency for the state of California on June 28, 200810
- Rare condor chicks were in danger 11
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Associated Press: Tired firefighters battle 330 Calif. wildfires(July 6, 2008)
- ↑ CNN: Big Sur Fire Creeps Toward Coast, Historic Town (June 27, 2008)
- ↑ MontereyHerald.com: More Firefighting Help Arrives in Big Sur (July 6, 2008)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 SFGate.com: 2,000 Firefighters Make a Stand in Big Sur (July 6, 2008)
- ↑ SFGate: Fire Near Big Sur Burns On, Fire Crews Short (July 4, 2008)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 MontereyHerald.com: Evacuations Expanded as Fire Jumps Fireline (July 2, 2008)
- ↑ San Jose Mercury News: Those Who Won't Evacuate May Make Big Sur... (July 5, 2008)
- ↑ The Salinas Californian: It May Burn All Summer (June 27, 2008)
- ↑ KCBS (San Francisco): Big Sur Blaze Still Threatens Homes (June 27, 2008)
- ↑ AFP: Firefighters Battle to Save California's Big Sur(June 30, 2008)
- ↑ USA Today: Residents flee Big Sur fire; condor chicks in jeopardy
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