Wildfires plague California

LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST, California (CNN) -- Two fires raged out of control Thursday in Southern California as 100-degree temperatures and gusty winds fanned the flames, and another fire forced evacuations.

A 30,700-acre fire in San Luis Obispo County east of Santa Maria had changed direction by Thursday as windy conditions blew flames further into Los Padres National Forest. Officials were unsure when it would be contained.

Crews used hand tools to fight a brush fire in Ventura County that burned more than 10,000 acres northwest of Los Angeles.

And a fast-moving brush fire threatened houses and caused the evacuation of two retirement homes Thursday afternoon near Los Gatos, fire officials said.

The fire was burning out of control in a steep, wooded area, and forced the closure of southbound lanes of Highway 17, a main thoroughfare between San Jose and Santa Cruz, on the northern California coast south of San Francisco.

Related stories:

• California wildfires brought under control - August 4, 1997
• Crews gain upper hand on California wildfires - August 3, 1997
• Fire near Yosemite contained - July 27, 1997

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