Soberanes Fire Update: Bigger Still With 79K Acres Consumed On Day 28

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA – The Soberanes Fire, burning in Monterey County since July 22, has consumed 79,000 acres, up from Wednesday's estimate of 76,683 acres, but containment is holding steady at 60 percent, according to Cal Fire.

Full containment is estimated by the end of the month.

The massive blaze, started July 22 by an illegal campfire, caused closures this week of stretches along Highway 1. Those orders have since been lifted, officials said. More details on road closures and evacuations here.

Firefighters at the scene total 2,858 for the blaze which killed a private contractor operating a bulldozer and injured three other workers, according to Cal Fire.

Also see:

• Clayton Fire Latest: Containment Improves to 40%
• Crews Battle Bailey Fire Off Highway 101

Previous Soberanes Fire coverage:

• Soberanes Fire Latest: Day 27 With Scorched Terrain Expanding Overnight By Roughly 700 Acres
• Soberanes Fire Grows To More Than 76K Acres; Hwy 1 Reopens -- For Now
• Soberanes Fire: Hwy 1 Closure Extended
• Hwy 1 Stretch To Close Sunday Due To Soberanes Fire
• Soberanes Fire Day 21: Possible Closure Of Hwy 1 Looms [UPDATE]
• Soberanes Fire Day 20: Containment Holding Steady At 50%
• Soberanes Fire Day 19: Burned Acreage Grows Overnight; Containment Advances To 50% [UPDATE]
• Nestless and Rescued: Firefighter Uses Coffee Cup To Save Baby Bird From Smoky Soberanes Fire
• Clint Eastwood Visits Firefighters Battling Soberanes Fire
• Two Injured in Massive Soberanes Fire

--Image via CAL FIRE BEU and Los Padres NF on Twitter