California Wildfire Continues to Grow, Only 15 Percent Contained

A wildfire on California's northern coast is gaining ground one week after it started, threatening an expanding number of homes and businesses. The blaze has destroyed 41 homes, 7 of them in the last day, as it approaches 30,000 acres in size, with only 15 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.

The fire, burning north of California's scenic Big Sur coastal area, has claimed one casualty, a 35-year-old father of two who was killed on July 26 when the bulldozer he was operating rolled over on the fire lines, the Associated Press reported.

About 2,000 structures surrounding the wildfire are in danger, according to authorities, and the fire has also damaged power lines and interrupted electrical service. Several hundred people in nearby communities have left the area under mandatory evacuation orders.

The fire continues to grow despite the efforts of more than 4,000 firefighting personnel who have been mobilized to the area, in addition to 392 fire enginess, 14 helicopters, 67 bulldozers and 6 air tankers, according to Cal Fire.