By Glen Martin
The San Francisco Chronicle (California)
Copyright 2006 The Chronicle Publishing Co.
All Rights Reserved
A fire in the Los Padres National Forest grew significantly Wednesday, jumping from 10,000 acres in the morning to an estimated 14,000 acres by late afternoon.
U.S. Forest Service spokesman Matt Mathes said the Perkins Fire 45 miles east of Santa Maria poses no immediate danger to human life or property.
And though the fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain toward the San Rafael Wilderness, a condor sanctuary, Mathes said none of the rare birds seemed threatened.
About 830 firefighters are battling the blaze, Mathes said, with no estimate for when it might be controlled. No injuries have been reported, Mathes said.
By Wednesday afternoon, about 35 percent of the fire had been contained, but not all fire lines are expected to hold, Mathes said.
“The growth potential for this fire remains high,” Mathes said. “It’s tough terrain, and temperatures have been hitting 98 degrees.”