California’s Largest Fire Explodes to 80,000 Acres as Evacuations Begin

"In central California, the Madre Fire has already scorched almost 80,000 acres of grass and brush – the largest wildfire the state has seen this year. The blaze, which began Wednesday in San Luis Obispo County’s rugged Los Padres National Forest (about 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles), prompted evacuation orders sending hundreds of residents fleeing multiple rural communities, threatening nearby towns, and closing State Route 166. California is under an intense summer heat wave with low humidity, creating tinderbox conditions." msn