U.S. Forest Service battles fire in Big Sur

Officials say a wildfire burning in the Big Sur area of California has forced the evacuation of dozens of homes and damaged at least two.

Los Padres National Forest Service has sent out 200 personnel, four air tankers, four helicopters and 10 Type 1 teams, according to their twitter page.

Los Padres National Forest spokesman Andrew Madsen said the fire Monday in the Pfeiffer Ridge area near Highway 1 had burned about 550 acres.

However, it had not crossed Highway 1, which remains open. Madsen said he did not have an exact figure on the number of homes under threat.

The fire began around midnight and burned through dry vegetation toward the ocean.

The cause is under investigation.

Big Sur is a popular tourist destination along the Central California coast with high-end resorts and beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.

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