Southern California fire shuts highway, forces evacuations

SOLVANG, Calif. (AP) — Evacuation orders have been expanded for a growing wildfire driven by intense winds that has shut down a key Southern California highway for more than a day. At least 200 firefighters battled the Alisal Fire. By Tuesday the blaze had scorched 21 square miles along coastal Santa Barbara County and was only 5% contained. In Northern California, fire crews increased containment of a blaze that destroyed 25 mobile homes, 16 RVs and a park building at the Rancho Marina RV Park in Sacramento County. Winds forced a utility to cut power to thousands of customers in an effort to prevent wildfires.