Hikers rescued after being trapped in Calif. wildfire

A group of hikers were rescued Tuesday after being stranded for days in the midst of the Soberanes wildfire raging outside of San Francisco, according to fire officials.

Eight people were hiking through the forest, when two became separated from the group and later made their way to safety, according to JoAnna Butron, a spokeswoman for the Monterey County's Sheriff’s Department.

The six remaining hikers called 9-1-1 on Tuesday, after they got turned around due to the smoke and were unsure of which way to go, Burton said.

Cal Fire rescue crews searched for the group for hours and eventually spotted the hikers.

Burton said the hikers were airlifted by helicopter to a safe area.

"They hadn’t eaten in a couple of days and were completely out of water, but there were no injuries," Butron said. "They were healthy, just very dirty."

According to Butron, campers at a nearby boy scout met the hikers and gave them food and water when they landed.

The wildfire has already burned through some 20,000 acres, according to KPIX-TV. 

The hikers have not been identified.

Follow @MaryBowerman on Twitter.