BIG SUR, Calif. — A wildfire was fouling the summer season on a beloved and scenic stretch of the California coast, where smoke and the threat of flames forced the closure of state parks near Big Sur.

The blaze that has destroyed 20 homes was burning inland over a ridge and was not for the most part visible on the Pacific Coast Highway, which remained open, but with its signature views hard to see in the dark haze.

“We wanted to see more of the ocean,” said Phoenix-area tourist Jim Newby, who drove along the highway with is family Tuesday. “We didn’t see a whole lot of it unfortunately, and it’s a beautiful, beautiful stretch.”

The blaze could very easily crest the ridge and make a run toward some of the beloved campgrounds, lodges and redwoods nearer to the shore, officials said.

To the south, firefighters made progress containing a huge blaze in mountains outside Los Angeles, allowing authorities to let most of 20,000 people evacuated over the weekend to return home.

The Big Sur closures were put into place for parks that draw 7,500 visitors daily. The park shutdowns came as a fire that started Friday just north of Big Sur grew Tuesday to 36 square miles but was just 10 percent contained.