Weather helping US firefighters
2010-07-29 21:29
Tehachapi - Calm, cool weather on Thursday morning dampened a wildfire that destroyed 25 buildings north of Los Angeles, and crews were prepared for afternoon winds that could kick up the flames again, a fire spokesperson said.
The 581ha blaze still threatened about 150 homes, but was 25% contained. If the weather co-operates, the fire should be fully surrounded by Friday, said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesperson John Buchanan.
A pattern of cool, moist morning and evening air was helping as nearly 800 firefighters carved fire lines in the eastern foothills of the Tehachapi Mountains, about 115km north of Los Angeles.
"I don't even see smoke," Buchanan said on Thursday. "I was out there. ... All you saw was glowing embers."
The temperature was expected to hit 33°C and winds were expected to jump in the afternoon to 23km/h, Buchanan said.
On Wednesday afternoon, a few afternoon gusts pushed the fire into action on its eastern side and swept unburned islands of brush into flame.
Area gusty
"It did make some pretty intense moments," but firefighters anticipated the wind change and dealt with it, Buchanan said.
The area is usually gusty and wind farms line ridges, but overall winds were light on Wednesday.
About 65km to the north, a fire that began on Monday in Sequoia National Forest grew to 16 470ha, or about 62km², and was 12% surrounded after burning eight homes and six outbuildings in the area of Kernville, a launching point for mountain adventuring.
About 1 200 homes and structures scattered in the fire area were considered threatened, but Bureau of Land Management information officer Michelle Puckett said they were not in immediate danger.
The causes of both fires were under investigation. The fire near Old West Ranch broke out on Tuesday.
- AP