Wildfire Update: Firefighters Make Progress On Major Blazes Across The State

Today over 11,600 firefighters are battling eight large wildfires in California. Milder temperatures aid firefighters in containment efforts, according to Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant. Evacuations on several fires have been lifted.

(AP) - California's newest wildfire has chased hundreds of people from their homes in Siskiyou County near the Oregon border.

Cal Fire says the blaze, dubbed the Grade Fire, that broke out Wednesday just north of Yreka has burned about 400 acres of timber and forced the closure of State Route 263.

It's one of nine major wildfires being fought Thursday by nearly 12,000 firefighters across the state.

A week-old, 50-square-mile blaze north of Santa Barbara is still growing as it feeds on extremely dry fuels in Los Padres National Forest. It's less than half contained.

Campgrounds are shut down in Sequoia National Forest because of a 41-square mile fire in Kern County that's just 15 percent contained after more than a week.

And a 500-acre fire that destroyed two Humboldt County homes since it broke out Monday is just 10 percent surrounded.

Authorities say more than 1,800 homes are threatened by a the Chimney Fire that continues to grow on the central coast.

Cal Fire said Thursday that the blaze has charred more than 68 square miles of dry brush and timber and destroyed 48 homes.

The fire was 39 percent surrounded and at least 2,400 people are under evacuation orders in San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties.

The popular tourist attraction Hearst Castle remains closed because of its proximity to the flames.

A fire burning for more than a month north of Big Sur grew again to nearly 142 square miles. Hundreds of homes remain threatened by the fire in rugged wilderness coast along Highway 1. The blaze was sparked by an illegal campfire. It remains 60 percent contained.

Here's a roundup of the wildfires we're currently tracking.