President George Bush declared a state of emergency in California June 28 as authorities battled more than 1,000 out-of-control wildfires. The fires have burned around 644 square km (400 square miles) of forest and parkland in northern California since June 20. Fire officials warned it could take weeks or even months to bring the fires under full control. The fires have forced localized evacuations. One of the largest fires is burning near the Big Sur region of the Los Padres National Forest. The blaze forced authorities to shut down a 19-km (12-mile) stretch of coastal Highway 1, cutting off access to some of the region's most popular tourist sites at the peak of tourist season. The fires have left a smoky haze over much of the San Francisco Bay area and Central Valley. Health advisories urging residents to stay indoors to limit exposure to the smoky air have been issued from Bakersfield to Redding, covering nearly 724 km (450 miles). Dozens of athletic events and other outdoor activities have been canceled. As of June 29, air pollution readings were two to 10 times the federal standard for clean air. Our Corporate Travel Specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you need immediate assistance and your company has a designated Expedia Corporate Travel phone number, please call that number directly. If you do not have a designated number, in the U.S. please call us at 1-866-EXP-CORP (1-866-397-2677) or 1-702-939-2530. When traveling outside the U.S., please refer to the following, use the following local international customer service numbers. You can also reach us via e-mail by using our "support and feedback" form. Help and guidance resources are readily available in our Expedia Corporate Travel Support Center.

Send this page to a friend