Monastery Evacuated in Big Sur Wildfires
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LUCIA, Calif. — Benedictine monks who bake fruitcakes to support their monastery were among the hundreds forced to flee wildfires that raced up the coastal mountains of Big Sur.
Eight monks remained behind Tuesday to help firefighters save their monastery high above the Pacific Ocean. The New Camadoli Hermitage, which is reachable only by a narrow, twisting road, offers stunning views of the ocean.
The winds were calm Tuesday evening, but given Big Sur’s often-changing winds, firefighters said the blazes could climb a ridge and sweep down onto the property within hours.
Lightning-caused fires have burned more than 78,000 acres in Northern California’s forests over the last few days.
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