PHOTOS: Fire crews continue to battle Soberanes Fire.

As the expected Soberanes Fire containment date of Sept. 30 draws near, firefighters continue working to control active fire near Arroyo Seco.

As of Sunday morning Sept. 25, the 126,693-acre fire is 77-percent contained. The fire has destroyed 57 homes in the Big Sur area.

On Saturday afternoon, fire crews on the north side of Chews Ridge near Tassajara worked to contain a smaller 360-acre fire that jumped over containment line a few nights prior. Six U.S. Forest Service Hotshot crews, a few engines and dozers were working in the area.

“They also used quite a bit of helicopter support dropping retardant and water,” says spokesperson Brentwood Reid of the U.S. Forest Service. “Today it looked really good and despite really strong northeast winds, the fire hasn’t had much movement at all.”

The weather is playing a major factor in the further containment.

“In the next couple of days, the crews are looking for opportunities to continue backburning the indirect line of the fire to help contain it around Arroyo Seco.”

The biggest challenge for firefighters is the rough terrain of the Los Padres National Forest.

“It’s very steep and rocky,” Reid says. “It’s difficult to put firefighters on the ground.”