Southern California Fire Shuts Highway, Forces Evacuations

Firefighters extinguish flames that were spotted ahead of the fire front along Highway 101 southbound at Vista Point, north of Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County, Calif., on Oct. 12, 2021. Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP

SOLVANG, Calif.—Evacuation orders were expanded Tuesday 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, which had scorched 12.5 square miles coastal Santa Barbara County and remained completely uncontained.