Wildfire destroys homes along California’s scenic coast, surges to more than 500 acres

A helicopter drops ocean water on a wildfire burning on Pfeiffer Ridge in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. The wildfire that erupted in a scenic stretch of California’s central coastline late Sunday night has destroyed at least 15 homes and forced many residents to evacuate, county and fire officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

Firefighters eat their lunch after battling a wildfire in the Pfeiffer Ridge region of Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. The wildfire that erupted in a scenic stretch of California’s central coastline late Sunday night has destroyed at least 15 homes and forced many residents to evacuate, county and fire officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

Firefighter Oscar Vargas spots for helicopter water drops on Pfeiffer Ridge in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. A wildfire that erupted in a scenic stretch of California’s central coastline late Sunday night has destroyed at least 15 homes and forced many residents to evacuate, county and fire officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

Heavy smoke from wildfires engulfs the Big Sur Station, in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. The wildfire that erupted in a scenic stretch of California’s central coastline late Sunday night has destroyed at least 15 homes and forced many residents to evacuate, county and fire officials said. The ranger station is the headquarters for the firefighting operations. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

The smoke and heat from the Pfeiffer Fire near Big Sur, California is captured on December 16, 2013 by MODIS or Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite. The red outlined area represents the heat from the fire. Crews battling a wildfire along central California’s scenic Big Sur coastline were on guard against a possible shift in winds on Tuesday, after the blaze destroyed at least 15 dwellings and forced 100 people to flee their homes, fire and county officials said. (REUTERS/NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team)

State Park Ranger Phil Bergman stops traffic on Highway 1 after a tree fell on the road as a result of a wildfire in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. Crews battling a wildfire along central California’s scenic Big Sur coastline were on guard against a possible shift in winds on Tuesday, after the blaze destroyed at least 15 dwellings and forced 100 people to flee their homes, fire and county officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

A wildfire burns down to Highway 1 in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. Crews battling a wildfire along central California’s scenic Big Sur coastline were on guard against a possible shift in winds on Tuesday, after the blaze destroyed at least 15 dwellings and forced 100 people to flee their homes, fire and county officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

Residents attend a community meeting at the Ranger Station to listen to updates regarding a wildfire in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. Crews battling a wildfire along central California’s scenic Big Sur coastline were on guard against a possible shift in winds on Tuesday, after the blaze destroyed at least 15 dwellings and forced 100 people to flee their homes, fire and county officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

Big Sur Fire Brigade Chief Frank Pinney addresses residents during a community meeting at the Ranger Station in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. Crews battling a wildfire along central California’s scenic Big Sur coastline were on guard against a possible shift in winds on Tuesday, after the blaze destroyed at least 15 dwellings and forced 100 people to flee their homes, fire and county officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

Crews remove a smoldering tree that fell on Highway 1 during a wildfire in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. Crews battling the wildfire along central California’s scenic Big Sur coastline were on guard against a possible shift in winds on Tuesday, after the blaze destroyed at least 15 dwellings and forced 100 people to flee their homes, fire and county officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

California State Park employees use chainsaws to remove a smoldering tree that fell on Highway 1 during a wildfire in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. Crews battling the wildfire along central California’s scenic Big Sur coastline were on guard against a possible shift in winds on Tuesday, after the blaze destroyed at least 15 dwellings and forced 100 people to flee their homes, fire and county officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

A loader removes a smoldering tree that fell on Highway 1 during a wildfire in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. Crews battling the wildfire along central California’s scenic Big Sur coastline were on guard against a possible shift in winds on Tuesday, after the blaze destroyed at least 15 dwellings and forced 100 people to flee their homes, fire and county officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

Heavy smoke from a wildfire obscures the Pacific Ocean at El Sur Ranch near Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. Crews battling the wildfire along central California’s scenic Big Sur coastline were on guard against a possible shift in winds on Tuesday, after the blaze destroyed at least 15 dwellings and forced 100 people to flee their homes, fire and county officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

Residents attend a community meeting at the Ranger Station to listen to wildfire updates in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. Crews battling the wildfire along central California’s scenic Big Sur coastline were on guard against a possible shift in winds on Tuesday, after the blaze destroyed at least 15 dwellings and forced 100 people to flee their homes, fire and county officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

A map of the Pfeiffer Fire is displayed at the Ranger Station in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. Crews battling the wildfire along central California’s scenic Big Sur coastline were on guard against a possible shift in winds on Tuesday, after the blaze destroyed at least 15 dwellings and forced 100 people to flee their homes, fire and county officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

Thick smoke is seen during wildfires in Big Sur, California, December 16, 2013. According to local media, a wildfire in Monterey County grew to more than 500 acres on Monday and some 300 firefighters were deployed to battle the blaze in the Big Sur area. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

A helicopter drops ocean water on a wildfire burning on Pfeiffer Ridge in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. The wildfire that erupted in a scenic stretch of California’s central coastline late Sunday night has destroyed at least 15 homes and forced many residents to evacuate, county and fire officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

Firefighter Oscar Vargas spots for helicopter drops on Pfeiffer Ridge in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. The wildfire that erupted in a scenic stretch of California’s central coastline late Sunday night has destroyed at least 15 homes and forced many residents to evacuate, county and fire officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

A helicopter drops ocean water on a wildfire burning on Pfeiffer Ridge in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. The wildfire erupted in a scenic stretch of California’s central coastline late Sunday night has destroyed at least 15 homes and forced many residents to evacuate, county and fire officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

A blaze flares up during a wild fire in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. A wildfire that erupted in a scenic stretch of California’s central coastline late Sunday night has destroyed at least 15 homes and forced many residents to evacuate, county and fire officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

Police and fire vehicles sit at the entrance to a canyon during a wild fire in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. A wildfire that erupted in a scenic stretch of California’s central coastline late Sunday night has destroyed at least 15 homes and forced many residents to evacuate, county and fire officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

A tree smoulders in an area that burned down to Highway 1 during a wild fire in Big Sur, California, December 17, 2013. A wildfire that erupted in a scenic stretch of California’s central coastline late Sunday night has destroyed at least 15 homes and forced many residents to evacuate, county and fire officials said. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

Thick smoke from wildfires hangs over Big Sur, California, December 16, 2013. According to local media, a wildfire in Monterey County grew to more than 500 acres on Monday and some 300 firefighters were deployed to battle the blaze in the Big Sur area. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

A firefighting crew walks past burning trees in Big Sur, California, December 16, 2013. According to local media, the wildfire in Monterey County grew to more than 500 acres on Monday and some 300 firefighters were deployed to battle the blaze in the Big Sur area. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

Police and fire vehicles sit at an access road that leads to an area where a wildfire is burning in Big Sur, California, December 16, 2013. According to local media, the wildfire in Monterey County grew to more than 500 acres on Monday and some 300 firefighters were deployed to battle the blaze in the Big Sur area. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

A firefighting crew crosses Highway 1 while deploying to contain a wild fire in Big Sur, California December 16, 2013. According to local media, a wildfire in Monterey County grew to more than 500 acres on Monday and some 300 firefighters were deployed to battle the blaze in the Big Sur area. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

A visitor watches as a wildfire burns along the Big Sur River in Big Sur, California, December 16, 2013. According to local media, the wildfire in Monterey County grew to more than 500 acres on Monday and some 300 firefighters were deployed to battle the blaze in the Big Sur area. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

A firefighting crew walks past burning trees in Big Sur, California, December 16, 2013. According to local media, a wildfire in Monterey County grew to more than 500 acres on Monday and some 300 firefighters were deployed to battle the blaze in the Big Sur area. (REUTERS/Michael Fiala)

Wildfire destroys homes along California’s scenic coast, surges to more than 500 acres

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