Evacuation ordered as fire consumes almost 6,500 acres in northern Big Sur area and threatens homes

Evacuations were ordered Saturday as a fast-moving brush fire threatened more than 1,000 homes in the northern Big Sur area of Monterey County, state officials reported.

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. Authorities said the blaze had grown to about 6,500 acres as of Saturday evening and was threatening 1,650 structures.

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.

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Cal Fire officials said the blaze was not contained Saturday morning, and they predicted that progress would be difficult throughout day.

“It’s certainly going to present some challenges for us to try to deal with this fire,� said Jonathan Pangburn, a Cal Fire spokesman.

Pangburn said wind gusts up to 70 mph Friday along the ridges caused the fire to break through containment lines.

As of Saturday evening, the fire was about 5% contained.

About 780 firefighters are at the scene, and an evacuation center has been established at Carmel Middle School for Palo Colorado residents.

No injuries have been reported.

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UPDATES:

UPDATE:

7:22 p.m.: This article was updated with new information on the number of acres burned, structures threatened and firefighters on scene.

This article was originally published at 11:10 a.m.