Wildfire Burning Near Big Sur Prompts Evacuations

BIG SUR, CA — A wildfire that ignited Friday evening in the Big Sur area was still raging on Saturday morning, scorching 1,500 acres, Cal Fire reported.

The blaze was dubbed the Colorado Fire and was just 5 percent contained as of Saturday morning, fire officials said.

Residents of the north coast of Big Sur were told to evacuate on Friday as the fire in the Palo Colorado canyon quickly swelled to more than 250 acres just a few hours after the fire started.

Officials shut down Highway 1 in both directions from Andrew Molera State Park to Carmel-By-The-Sea, according to local reports. The American Red Cross was setting up a shelter at a middle school.

A wind advisory had been issued in the Bay Area for Friday night through Saturday morning, though meteorologists said strong winds were most likely in higher elevations, according to the National Weather Service.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.