Yellowstone tourists face detour for fire but landmarks open

Washington Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency in 20 counties near the smoke-shrouded city of Spokane, as firefighter reinforcements arrived in the area.

A growing wildfire in central California had charred over 50 square miles by Monday, while a destructive blaze in Southern California was mostly under control.

The blaze in San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties remains 35 percent contained after destroying 36 homes.

The fire burning timber in remote, mountainous backcountry was 50 percent contained and was expected to burn at least until the end of September.

The fire has destroyed 34 homes and 14 other buildings.

The fire has burned about 42 square miles since was ignited by lightning on August 8.

Hearst Castle, the palatial ocean-view estate popular among tourists, remains closed because of proximity to the fire.

Just north of Big Sur, California’s largest fire grew held steady at 135 square miles in rugged wilderness coast along Highway 1.

In central Washington, a large fire moved east toward Kahlotus, where it threatened homes and forced some residents to evacuate.

The Department of Natural Resources says the fire west of Spokane also scorched more than 9 square miles by Monday.

People in the community of Wellpinit have been told to evacuate.

Crews have fully surrounded a massive Southern California wildfire that burned for a week and destroyed 105 homes and 216 outbuildings.

Meanwhile almost 1,900 homes are threatened by a wildfire on California’s central coast that grew slightly overnight to almost 58 square miles.

For info on the Grand Teton roads, call (307) 739-3614.

Fire spokeswoman Karen Miranda says prospects aren’t good for opening the road anytime soon because the fire is burning along the highway, which leads to the South Entrance of Yellowstone.

The flames expanded by almost 10 square miles Sunday.

In Yellowstone, four fires are burning but all major visitor areas and roads remain open.

Authorities ordered evacuations east of Thompson Falls after a fire doubled in size to almost 11 square miles.

The small town remained without power, phone service or cellphone services. Wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour were expected to blow across the dry, hot terrain, stoking extreme fire behavior.

Some 317 firefighters are responding to the blaze, which grew by 4½ square miles Sunday to almost 11 square miles.

Authorities say a blaze in eastern Washington state, one of several in the region, has destroyed at least six homes.

Officials say the human-caused fire reported Sunday about 7 miles east of Idaho Falls is making wind-driven runs to the north and east. Officials say they are increasingly confident it will be spared.

Bureau of Land Management spokesman Larry Moore says the wildfire is burning two miles east of the Owyhee Reservoir, and it’s threatening Succor Creek State Park.