Currently the road seems open again.

I created this map to check for traffic problems on Highway 1:

Highway 1 Map

Unfortunately it was a bit premature. The fire is still spreading and very hard to contain. It just jumped a fire control line and is now spreading further. Currently its only 3% contained and 31 miles of Highway 1 is closed. 

Containment will not be before July 31 (that does not mean its out though). 

Just a question, by the way. How long do these fires go until they're extinguished (probably on its own without intervention)? It's kinda scary just thinking about it especially if you happen to be near the area.

Wow! That is fairly serious!

I hope that no one was hurt and that the only real damage was to the road?   

I haven't really seen a huge fire before so if something like that happened near our area, I would be quite amazed. Danger would be the second thought most probably...along with my personal belongings.

The fire is 23% contained. Highway 1 remains closed between Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Lucia. The fire is rather stubborn and keeps flaring up. The current heatwave also exaggerates the situation.

I don't really know how long these fires burn. It all depends on the area and how much access firefighters have. Unfortunately those fires are hard to contain due to the area. The recent drought and low humidity makes everything burn like tinder. Fire get started even by a single spark from equipment, malfunctioning (or tuned) cars, lightning, cigarette butts and unfortunately arson.

A giant smoke cloud looms over most of california:

Unhealthy Air

I headed out through the Sierra Nevada last Thursday and the smoke was so thick that I could barely see 500 feet ahead of me.  Breathing was hard despite me recycling my cars internal air.

I drove to Idaho for the 4th and I could still see the haze.

The air quality is only improving slightly during the next few days.

Matt: Without intervention the fires would probably burn until the next raining season starts (September probably).

Andre

Travel Photos

Holy crap. That long? So it will burn everything in its path until there's nothing left. Now that's scary.

Well, if you don't put it out (cut off the oxygen or remove the fuel), a fire will burn until there is no fuel left. The forests are expansive (enough fuel) and there won't be any rain for a while (no cutting oxygen). 

The firemen are thus digging trenches to encircle the fire (which is contained when it is fully encircled) and then hopefully it will burn itself out. They are also dropping water from the air to prevent it from burning near homes. The rugged terrain and remoteness of the fire makes getting to it very hard. The heat wave is also exhausting firemen faster than usual. I have seen firetrucks from Washington State, Oregon, Nevada and California. I also read in the news that some National Guardsmen are deployed for fire duty.

Since we are in the second year of a drought, the fire season is probably going to last until the raining season starts, although we are down from a maximum of 1400 active fires to "just" 300, out of which this one is one of the biggest.

Andre

Travel Photos

So how's the fire? Was it put out already? Is traveling safe in your area now?

The fire is still going and Highway 1 remains closed. What a pity to close down this most amazing road during the peak travel season. I think it may be until August for it to reopen.

Some residents have been allowed back to their homes but the area is still closed for the general public.

A.