The Latest: Crews keep 2 major California fires from growing

BIG SUR, Calif. – The Latest on California wildfires (all times local):

8:30 p.m.

A wildfire in Central California burning in blistering heat has destroyed three homes and grown to more than 3 square miles.

The three destroyed homes and two other buildings were confirmed Monday, though they had burned over the weekend. Fire officials hadn’t been immediately able to assess the damage.

The blaze that broke out Saturday in the Fresno County town of Prather has grown 3.1 square miles and is 20 per cent contained.

About 300 people are under evacuation orders.

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9:10 a.m.

A destructive wildfire near California’s Big Sur region is holding steady at more than 62 square miles (161 square kilometres).

The fire command said Monday that crews weren’t able to increase containment on the blaze, but it didn’t expand overnight. It’s less than 20 per cent contained.

Firefighters hope to get a break this week with cooler temperatures and increased humidity.

The fire has been burning for 10 days, destroying 57 homes and threatening 2,000 additional structures.

Another fire northeast of Fresno also was held overnight to just under 3 square miles (7.8 square kilometres). It has damaged homes is 15 per cent contained.

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8:15 a.m.

Crews working around the clock kept a wildfire from growing after it damaged homes in California’s Central Valley.

But firefighters will contend with triple-digit temperatures Monday. The fire command says the blaze in steep terrain northeast of Fresno is threatening about 400 structures.

Officials said Sunday that some of the evacuated homes have been damaged, but it isn’t yet clear how many. The fire near the town of Prather is just under 3 square miles (7.8 square kilometres) and is partially contained.

Meanwhile, firefighters are still battling a massive blaze north of Big Sur that has grown to more than 62 square miles. The fire has destroyed 57 homes and is threatening 2,000 more structures. It’s partially contained.

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6:25 a.m.

Crews worked through the night protecting neighbourhoods from a wildfire in California’s Central Valley that damaged homes and forced hundreds of evacuations.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said late Sunday that the blaze northeast of Fresno had charred 3 square miles of dry brush. That number is expected to grow when officials get a better look at the fire lines Monday.

Officials also will try to determine how many of the 200 evacuated homes have been damaged by the fire that broke out Saturday. It’s just 5 per cent contained.

Meanwhile, firefighters are still battling a massive blaze north of Big Sur that has grown to more than 62 square miles. The fire has destroyed 57 homes and is threatening 2,000 more structures. It was 18 per cent contained Sunday.