New wildfire burns in Calif.'s Los Padres forest

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. (AP) -- A wildfire in the Los Padres National Forest has nearly doubled in size and prompted the evacuation of a few homes in the remote region.

The U.S. Forest Service says more than 830 firefighters are battling the blaze that broke out Saturday night in Monterey County, along the California coast about 150 miles south of San Francisco.

Aided by hot weather and dense brush, the fire grew from 925 acres Monday morning to more than 1,700 acres by nightfall. It was only 5 percent contained.

Forecasters were expecting weather to improve later Tuesday.

No structures have been lost so far, but about seven homes and a commercial building were subject to the evacuation order issued by the Monterey County Sheriff's Department.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)