With more than 1,000 fires burning in Central and Northern California, President Bush on Saturday designated a region stretching from Nevada to the Pacific Ocean a federal disaster area. Firefighters hoped the arrival of a thick marine layer would aid their intense battle.
The emergency declaration brings with it both equipment and financial relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the counties of Butte, Mendocino, Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta and Trinity, where fires, many triggered by lightning, have charred more than 308,000 acres and destroyed at least 28 homes -- 16 of them in the mountains near Big Sur's legendary 70-mile coastline.
More than 6,800 homes are threatened across California, said Cheri Patterson, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Protection. More than 17,000 firefighters from more than 35 states are battling the fires. The effort includes 1,194 fire engines and 85 helicopters, according to the department.
Even with the federal help, the state will need additional money to pay for the high cost of fighting the blazes, said Frank McCarton, chief deputy director in the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who thanked the president for the declaration, said in a statement, "It is hot, and the state is tinder-dry. This will be a long fire season."
The windy, dry weather abated somewhat on Saturday.
"You know our lives are ruled by the weather and, thankfully, we are predicting very light winds, and we have a thick marine layer," said Tina Rose, another spokeswoman for the forestry department.
With so many fires, state officials are having difficulty updating data.One of the most threatening blazes, the Basin fire near Big Sur, had burned 30,043 acres -- it grew by 3,062 acres on Saturday. It was only 3% contained Saturday evening, said Kathy Good, a spokeswoman for the Los Padres National Forest.
California Highway 1 remained closed from Lucia to just south of Big Sur -- with fire on a ridge above the road. The only access to Big Sur is from the north.
"We'll be on this one for the long haul," Good said. "It's going to be a very tough fire. . . . It's rugged, it's road-less with very little access and it gets very hot."
In Big Sur, the Post Ranch Inn reopened to guests on Saturday and the Ventana Inn's website said guest stays would resume Monday afternoon.
