Fires

See dramatic photos, videos of wind-whipped Avila Fire burning in Pismo Beach

The wind-whipped Avila Fire erupted off Highway 101 near Shell Beach on Monday, quickly growing to roughly 400 acres and forcing evacuations of hundreds of residents in the area.

As of 9 p.m., the fire is holding at 400 acres with 10% containment. Crews are expected to be working on the blaze overnight and into the coming days.

The fire was a dramatic sight Monday, with a giant smoke cloud hanging over much of Pismo Beach throughout day as the flames crept close to populated areas of the beach town.

For updates on the fire’s progress, check out our story here.

The Avila Fire burns in the hills above Shell Beach on Monday, forcing evacuations from nearby homes.
The Avila Fire burns in the hills above Shell Beach on Monday, forcing evacuations from nearby homes. Joe Dezso
View of the fire burning in Shell Beach from Avila Beach.
View of the fire burning in Shell Beach from Avila Beach. 805Webcams.com
An air tanker drops retardant Monday on a fire burning a hillside along Highway 101 near the Avila Beach Drive exit.
An air tanker drops retardant Monday on a fire burning a hillside along Highway 101 near the Avila Beach Drive exit. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Smoke fills the skies above Price Canyon Road and Canyon Lane in San Luis Obispo on Monday, June 15, 2020.
Smoke fills the skies above Price Canyon Road and Canyon Lane in San Luis Obispo on Monday, June 15, 2020. Kaytlyn Leslie kleslie@thetribunenews.com
People stand on a cliff next to Boosinger Park on Wadsworth Avenue in Pismo Beach, looking at smoke from a nearby vegetation fire, on Monday, June 15, 2020.
People stand on a cliff next to Boosinger Park on Wadsworth Avenue in Pismo Beach, looking at smoke from a nearby vegetation fire, on Monday, June 15, 2020. Kaytlyn Leslie kleslie@thetribunenews.com
View of beach in Avila Beach as a fire burned nearby in Shell Beach.
View of beach in Avila Beach as a fire burned nearby in Shell Beach. 805Webcams.com
Wind-whipped flames burn on the hillside next to Highway 101, above Shell Beach.
Wind-whipped flames burn on the hillside next to Highway 101, above Shell Beach. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Palms show gusty winds coming down the coast. A wind-driven brush fire quickly moved south along Highway 101 along the Shell Beach straits and into Pismo Beach.
Palms show gusty winds coming down the coast. A wind-driven brush fire quickly moved south along Highway 101 along the Shell Beach straits and into Pismo Beach. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Miguel Salcedo
Houses above Costa Rica were threatened by a wind-driven brush fire as it quickly moved south along Highway 101 along the Shell Beach straits and into Pismo Beach.
Houses above Costa Rica were threatened by a wind-driven brush fire as it quickly moved south along Highway 101 along the Shell Beach straits and into Pismo Beach. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Ian Fremd, left and Kelby Jecker with Cayucos station of Cal Fire mop up along Mattie Road. A wind driven brush fire quickly moved south along Highway 101 along the Shell Beach straits and into Pismo Beach.
Ian Fremd, left and Kelby Jecker with Cayucos station of Cal Fire mop up along Mattie Road. A wind driven brush fire quickly moved south along Highway 101 along the Shell Beach straits and into Pismo Beach. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
A wind-driven brush fire quickly moved south along Highway 101 along the Shell Beach straits and into Pismo Beach.
A wind-driven brush fire quickly moved south along Highway 101 along the Shell Beach straits and into Pismo Beach. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
An air tanker flies by a smoke shrouded sun. A wind driven brush fire quickly moved south along Highway 101 along the Shell Beach straits and into Pismo Beach.
An air tanker flies by a smoke shrouded sun. A wind driven brush fire quickly moved south along Highway 101 along the Shell Beach straits and into Pismo Beach. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Smoke from the Avila Fire shrouds the sun in a view from Pismo Beach at around 7 p.m. Monday.
Smoke from the Avila Fire shrouds the sun in a view from Pismo Beach at around 7 p.m. Monday. Kaytlyn Leslie kleslie@thethetribunenews.com
Marcus Anguiano works on hotspots along Highway 101 after sunset. A wind driven brush fire quickly moved south along Highway 101 along the Shell Beach straits and into Pismo Beach.
Marcus Anguiano works on hotspots along Highway 101 after sunset. A wind driven brush fire quickly moved south along Highway 101 along the Shell Beach straits and into Pismo Beach. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com


Do you have photos or videos of the Avila Fire? Send them to reporter Kaytlyn Leslie at kleslie@thetribunenews.com.

This story was originally published June 15, 2020 at 9:12 PM.

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Kaytlyn Leslie
The Tribune
805-781-7928 (voicemails only)
Kaytlyn Leslie writes about business and development for The San Luis Obispo Tribune. Hailing from Nipomo, she also covers city governments and happenings in San Luis Obispo. She joined The Tribune in 2013 after graduating from Cal Poly with her journalism degree.
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