A wildfire in a wilderness area of Central California continued to spread Friday amid dry, windy conditions.
The Madre Fire is California’s largest blaze so far this year, igniting in dry brush Wednesday in southeastern San Luis Obispo County. By Friday, it had swiftly grown to nearly 71,000 acres, and there was just 10% containment, according to Cal Fire.
Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for tiny communities near State Route 166 as flames moved through hilly terrain toward the Carrizo Plain National Monument, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of Santa Maria…