California fires coming under control

Cooler temperatures helped firefighters battling a wildfire in southern California yesterday and an official said the blaze was expected to be under control within 24 hours.

The so-called Springs Fire has charred about 28,000 acres of brush land in a coastal area northwest of Los Angeles since it started on Thursday.

The favourable weather yesterday helped firefighters as they put containment lines around the fire, which they estimate will be completely contained sometime today.

“We’re really not seeing a lot of fire activity out there right now,” said Capt Dan Horgon of the Ventura County fire department. “There are occasional flare-ups here and there, but with the weather, everything has really died down compared to a few days ago.”

By yesterday, the fire was 60 per cent contained, he said.

The Springs Fire, and a flurry of smaller blazes around the state last week, marked a sudden start to the California fire season. Some weather forecasters have predicted the season will be worsened by a summer of higher temperatures and drought throughout much of the US west.

About 4,000 homes had been threatened by the fire but only 15 homes were reported to have been damaged, Capt Horgon said. Seven people suffered minor injuries, including six firefighters. – (Reuters)