Wildfires across California have scourged 521,000 acres (208,400 hectares) as cooler, coastal air and humidity characteristic to the marine layer moved into some areas, spreading hope among firefighters that the change will help put out the blazes.

To the south in the national forest, winds up to 40 mph provoked a fire near Goleta in Santa Barbara County. Immediately, orders to evacuate about 5,000 homes were issued, while residents of 2,000 other homes were alerted to pack their bags and be ready to leave at any moment.

„The fire is expanding and presenting some very complex challenges because of the terrain and the fact that it hasn't burned in over 50 years," said Capt. Eli Iskow of the Santa Barbara County fire department.

An intense air attack was planned by authorities to help control, diminish and finally put out the Goleta fire on Saturday. Plans include drops from a giant DC-10 air tanker that made a single pass over the wildfire on Friday.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued orders that 200 more soldiers from the California National Guard reinforce firefighters engaged in the wildfires containment process in the north. One volunteer firefighter died Thursday while working as a spotter on a fire in Mendocino County. Gov. Schwarzenegger first ordered 200 Guard troops into action on July 1.

Also, in spite of temperatures dropping and mild wind, one fire that already had forced the evacuation of Big Sur reached closer to historic vacation retreats.

Big Sur was ghostly empty under a thick blanket of fog and smoke at the start of the long holiday weekend as the nearly two-week-old wildfire advanced on the tourist town. As the blaze came closer to Highway 1, animals in the forest ran toward the Pacific Ocean for cover.

In a final effort to put an end to the Big Sur fire and preventing it to cross Highway 1, where many homes and businesses are located, hundreds of firefighters lit controlled fires along the highway. But the fire was only 5 percent contained and had consumed more than 107 square miles and 20 homes, while the Goleta blaze was 14 percent contained and had damaged about a half-dozen outbuildings and had charred than 10 square miles.

Besides the Goleta and Big Sur wildfires, another blaze raising concern was in the Sequoia National Forest, east of Bakersfield. It had scorched 28 square miles, destroyed one home and threatened 1,000 more in close by communities. It was 18 percent contained.