U.S. Forest Service officials Monday were reporting little change in the status of several lightning-sparked fires burning for several days in remote areas of Los Padres National Forest, but said firefighters continued to make progress containing the blazes.

The area charred by what is being called the Santa Lucia Lightning Complex remained at a total of 256 acres Monday evening, unchanged from Sunday night, the Forest Service reported.

Favorable weather conditions and a strong aerial attack are allowing firefighters to keep the blazes in check, the Forest Service said.

Eight helicopters and some 499 firefighters were assigned to the fires, which are burning approximately 20 miles east of Santa Maria.

The containment estimate was at 60 percent Monday night, up from 40 percent earlier in the day.

The Santa Lucia Lightning Complex consists of the Buckhorn Complex, which includes three lightning-sparked fires that have burned roughly 185 acres about 3 miles east of Tepusquet Road; the Owl Fire, an 18-acre burn in the Salsipuedes Canyon area; and the Manzanita Fire, which has charred 53 acres a mile east of Manzanita Mountain.

Firefighting efforts have cost $2.1 million as of Monday evening, the Forest Service said.

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There had been three injuries reported as a result of the fires, said Manuel Madrigal, fire information officer for the Santa Lucia Lightning Complex. One firefighter working on the blazes suffered heat-related injuries Monday, he said.

Lines have been completely built around the fires, Madrigal said, but the line needed to be improved around the Buckhorn Complex.

The fires resulted from a band of thunderstorms that moved through the area Thursday night and Friday morning.

The Forest Service has closed national forest lands, including trails and campgrounds in the general vicinity of the Santa Lucia Lightning Complex Fires, including La Brea, Tepusquet, Colson and Rattlesnake canyons and Buckhorn Ridge areas.

An incident command post and fire camp for the blazes has been established at Preisker Park in Santa Maria.

August 19, 2008