Environment

Winds slow down but California wildfires continue

by Amy Judd | October 14, 2008 at 10:18 am

282 views | 4 Recommendations | 4 comments

The California fires continue to burn north of Los Angeles, and have forced the evacuation of thousands of people from their homes. The Santa Ana winds had calmed down this morning, while residents waited to see if they would pick up again.

The two fires have already killed two people and burned 10,000 acres. The Marek fire was mostly contained this morning, while the Porter Ranch fire was still burning in a southwesterly direction and threatening homes in LA and Ventura.

"Once again, we are facing the perfect storm of high winds, low humidity and high heat," said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, speaking today at the command post for the Marek fire at Hansen Dam Recreation Center in Lake View Terrace.

Statewide, from the U.S.-Mexico border to Los Angeles, wildfires in recent days have consumed 26,000 acres and 64 structures, Schwarzenegger said.

Inspector Paul Hartwell of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said today that although winds appeared calm, they could kick up by 11 a.m

"This thing is not out. This thing is not over," Hartwell said. "This is halftime. Don't get comfortable, we're not comfortable."

Even though the Marek fire was 70% contained, an incident action plan released to officials and firefighters this morning warned that "fuels are critically dry and winds continue to be a major influence on direction and rate of spread. ... We have a deadly history in these canyons."

Firefighters at the Marek blaze said their job today is to build a line around the fire's perimeter, using bulldozers and hand crews to create "defensible space," as a homeowner would around his house home.

Fire officials have now partially lifted the evacuation order at one of the three sites of the fires.

Officials say more than 2,000 firefighters have been working to contain the flames. They're backed by a fleet of water- and retardant-dropping aircraft. Authorities say intense winds caused one blaze to double in size from 5,000 to nearly 10,000 acres overnight.

But winds subsided at another site, and fire officials report that one blaze is 70% contained. They're easing an evacuation order for about 1,000 homes threatened by the Camp Pendleton blaze. But another 500 homes nearby will have to stay empty.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he is not concerned about how much money it's going to take to fight the fires.

At a news conference Tuesday, the governor said the state has $1.5 billion in reserve to battle fires.

One of the smaller fires is being blamed on a squirrel that bit through some wires and caught himself on fire.

Redding firefighters say the squirrel set off the blaze when it shorted out a power line, caught fire and dropped into dry vegetation.

Battalion Chief Gerry Gray says it took 18 firefighters and six fire engines to fight the fire that started behind a Redding restaurant.

The fire briefly threatened a home before it was contained Monday.

Poor unlucky squirrel.

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merlingraycat

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 11:21 on October 14th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff. Good info. We in CA are not happy but unfortunately are used to the fires, especially in Sept. and Oct. We have great firefighters here who really cooperate with each other.

mechanoid dolly

at 11:32 on October 14th, 2008

This was the second wildfire in one week by my neighborhood. I was a little nervous driving home from work because I noticed this one was a lot closer. I have a great vantage point on some hills behind my house, where I and many neighbors gathered to watch firefighting airplanes dump red flame retardant. The fire line covered half of the horizon as the sun set.

mechanoid dolly has contributed a photo to this story.