KTLA

Historic Hearst Castle Threatened by 17,000-Acre Chimney Fire

The Chimney fire in San Luis Obispo County has burned more than 15,000 acres and moved within two miles of Hearst Castle, shown in 2004. (Credit: Spencer Weiner/ Los Angeles Times)

The Chimney fire, a 17,000-acre fire in San Luis Obispo County, is threatening Hearst Castle and the buildings around it, Cal Fire authorities said Saturday afternoon.

The fire was headed toward the national historic landmark and the leading edge was just two miles away, said Emily Hjortstorp, Cal Fire spokeswoman. Crews are expecting winds of up to 20 miles per hour, but the fire isn’t traveling especially fast, she said.

Bulldozers, trucks and firefighters are digging containment lines around the castle, Hjorstorp said. No evacuation orders have been issued for the area, she said.

“It is fire, and it is traveling in that direction, but it’s not raging the way it has been in the past,” Hjortstorp said.

Click here to read the full story on LATimes.com

35.282752-120.659616