Willow Fire in Monterey County wilderness grows to 2,000 acres

A blaze in the rugged, hot and dry Ventana Wilderness south of Monterey that already has led to evacuation of the Tassajara Zen Center and Hot Springs was expected to spread on Saturday, according to a federal fire coordination agency.

Southern California brush fire prompts evacuations

Authorities say a brush fire has prompted mandatory evacuation orders for residents of the eastern Riverside County community of Pinyon Crest. U.S. Forest Service firefighters said the fire broke out Sunday morning and charred 150 acres, prompting the evacuation of the neighborhood. Rob Roseen, a spokesman for CAL Fire/Riverside County Fire Department, said it was not immediately clear how many homes were affected. Fire officials said the blaze prompted the closure of Highway 74 between Highway 371 and Palowet Drive in Palm Desert.

Grade Fire breaks out in Santa Cruz mountains

Firefighters contained a wildfire that broke out Monday morning in the Santa Cruz mountains. Known as the Grade Fire, it started in an area that was burned by last summer's massive CZU Lightning Complex fire.