Shocking map of Colorado Big Sur wildfire shows devastating damage as hundreds of residents flee from ‘surreal’ blaze

A SHOCKING map lays naked the sheer scale of wildfires ravaging enormous swaths of the Massive Sur mountains as lots of of residents flee for his or her lives. 

The blaze, dubbed the Colorado Hearth, broke out in Palo Colorado Canyon and was pushed by winds of as much as 35mph to the ocean, leaping over the Pacific Coast Freeway and burning on the west aspect.

A map has revealed the evacuation zone as the hearth relentlessly spreads having already burned 1,050 acres.Credit score: Google Maps

The Colorado Hearth burns down towards the Bixby Bridge in Massive SurCredit score: Getty

Firefighters had been battling a wildfire that broke out within the rugged mountains alongside Massive Sur, forcing lots of of residents on this precarious stretch of the California coast to evacuate and authorities to close its most important roadway.

The fireplace began on Friday evening in a steep canyon and shortly unfold towards the ocean, fanned by robust winds as much as 50 mph.

Authorities closed a stretch of Freeway 1 with no estimated time for reopening. 

The 2-lane freeway alongside Massive Sur is liable to closures as a result of hearth and mudslides from heavy rain that made parts of the roadway collapse final yr and in 2017.

Sturdy winds had been recorded throughout the San Francisco Bay Space in a single day, pulling down bushes and energy traces and inflicting outages to at the very least 18,000 Pacific Fuel & Electrical clients within the area, the utility stated. 

There have been no speedy stories of accidents.

In Sonoma County, firefighters extinguished a 5-acre hearth on Geyser Peak, the place gusts above 90 mph had been recorded. Within the Sierra Nevada, the winds topped 141 mph close to the summit of Kirkwood Mountain Resort, shutting a number of ski lifts.

In Southern California, a peak gust of 90 mph was recorded within the mountains east of Santa Clarita. 

Sturdy winds developed throughout the area, toppling bushes and powerlines.

The Nationwide Climate Service stated the same windy occasion occurred within the Bay Space almost a yr in the past. 

A crimson flag warning of maximum hearth hazard was issued then as a result of robust winds and far drier situations.

This time, the area acquired a reprieve from December storms that dumped heavy snow within the mountains and partially refilled parched reservoirs.

However, Juliette stated the winds shortly dried up vegetation weakened by a protracted drought and lowered humidity degree.

It is uncommon to have a fireplace, this measurement right here on the coast on the finish of January, she stated. 

The truth that we had a fireplace this measurement is of nice concern.

The reason for the hearth was underneath investigation.

Firefighters shield a house as a wall of flames nearsCredit score: Getty

A hand crew climbs a steep hillside whereas battling the extraordinary firesCredit score: Getty

Hearth burns above Freeway 1 north of Massive Sur close to Rocky Level Restaurant. early Saturday morningCredit score: Getty