About 430.000 people live in the Monterey County fire zone.

One of the main roads leading up to the National Park, a 20 mile section of State Highway 1, a scenic north-south route along the Pacific coast, was shut from near the seaside town of Carmel-by-the-Sea down to Andrew Molera State Park.

The American Red Cross opened a makeshift shelter at a local school late Friday, according to the district officials.

Four people along with a pet had been staying overnight at a local school, the Red Cross said.

California has long had an active wildfire season but in recent years, amid climate change, the state became lengthy and punishing.

Last year, the wildfire season began abnormally early, amid a persistent drought and low reservoirs, Cal Fire said.

In January 2021 alone, the state was fighting 297 fires, across 1,171 hectares, according to the bureau.

The Colorado Fire is the only fire that was previously on Cal Fire’s list of incidents.


Colorado Fire

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The Colorado Fire is a wildfire currently burning near Big Sur, in Monterey County, California. The fire, which has an unknown cause, was first reported around 7:30 p.m. PST on January 21, 2022. (wikipedia)


California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

The State of California’s agency responsible for fire protection in State Responsibility Areas of California totaling 31 million acres, as well as the administration of the state’s private (wikipedia)