California Wildfire Grows to Nearly 80,000 Acres, Forcing Evacuations

A wildfire on the central coast of California has grown to 84,080 acres, prompting evacuation orders and closing part of a highway.

The Madre Fire, the biggest the state has seen this year, started on Wednesday and is burning in a remote area in the mountains between the Central Coast and the Central Valley, in the Los Padres National Forest.

The fire was about 30% contained as of Saturday morning, according to CalFire. One structures has been destroyed, and 50 structures are threatened, the agency said.

The fire is burning in a rural area of San Luis Obispo County, but thick smoke has spread to nearby counties.

Resources assigned to the blaze include 1,472 personnel, 75 engines and 16 helicopters.