Fires in California: Section of Highway 1 closed

A section of California's famous and scenic coastal highway Highway 1 is closed due to two fires.

The approximately 70 kilometer long section on the Pacific coast is around 250 kilometers south of San Francisco. The closed portion is considered one of the most scenic of the highway because of the rugged coastline and several iconic bridges.

Businesses in the area closed because of the fires, the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper reported. The hotel and hospitality industry is also affected. Firefighters attempted to use controlled burns to expand firebreaks to protect homes and businesses along the Highway 1 corridor, according to the report.

Lockdown restricts tourism

The closure is preventing tourists from reaching some of the Big Sur region's most well-known hotels, restaurants and shops along the coastal strip. Several businesses that had reopened after previous closures were forced to close again. "We have two fires right now. Two separate road closures," a hotel owner told the San Francisco Chronicle. Most of the Big Sur Valley business district has been evacuated, he said.

The closure comes during the busiest time of year and is a blow to Big Sur's tourism industry. July and August are typically the busiest months for many hotels and restaurants in the area.