California wildfires nearly fully contained

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Nearly all the wildfires sparked by a lightning storm in California last month have been contained.

State fire officials say 98 percent of the more than 2,000 fires ignited June 21 have been surrounded or extinguished. Only 27 are still burning.

The Monterey County Sheriff's Department opened roads and lifted remaining evacuation requests near the historic community of Big Sur.

Still, officials warn the fire danger remains very high throughout the state. Several small communities still are under evacuation orders because of a fire in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

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