Current:Home > BackFire crews gain greater control over destructive Southern California wildfire-LoTradeCoin
Fire crews gain greater control over destructive Southern California wildfire
View Date:2024-12-23 15:47:06
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Favorable weather conditions helped fire crews gain more control over a Southern California wildfire that has destroyed 134 structures and damaged dozens more, authorities reported Sunday.
Crews increased containment of the Mountain Fire to 26% in Ventura County northwest of Los Angeles, up from 21% on Saturday night. The fire’s size remains around 32 square miles (about 83 square kilometers).
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Inspection teams continue to assess damage.
Evacuation orders were downgraded Saturday to warnings for residents in several areas of Ventura County as gusty winds subsided and firefighters were aided by mild temperatures and low humidity.
“The fire continues to creep and smolder in steep rugged terrain. Threats remain to critical infrastructure, highways, and communities,” according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, better known as Cal Fire.
The fire broke out Wednesday morning and exploded in size with the arrival of dry, warm and gusty northeast Santa Ana winds, forcing thousands of residents to flee and threatening 3,500 structures in suburban neighborhoods, ranches and agricultural areas around the community of Camarillo.
Agriculture officials assessing the toll on farmland sown with avocado, citrus and berries estimated the damage at $2.4 million, the Ventura County Star reported.
Another round of northeast winds was expected Tuesday, but humidity was expected to rise and gusts were not expected to surge as high as those that fanned the fire, National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Walbrun said.
The region northwest of Los Angeles has seen some of California’s most destructive fires over the years. The Mountain Fire swiftly grew from less than half a square mile (about 1.2 square kilometers) to more than 16 square miles (41 square kilometers) in little more than five hours on Wednesday, with gusts topping 61 mph (98 kph).
Red flag warnings indicating conditions for high fire danger expired in most of the region Thursday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency in Ventura County.
veryGood! (49)
Related
- Queen Elizabeth II's Final 5-Word Diary Entry Revealed
- Bill headed to South Dakota governor would allow museum’s taxidermy animals to find new homes
- Border Patrol releases hundreds of migrants at a bus stop after San Diego runs out of aid money
- California State University student workers vote to unionize, creating largest such union in country
- Oprah Winfrey Addresses Claim She Was Paid $1 Million by Kamala Harris' Campaign
- A controversial idea at the heart of Bidenomics
- Suni Lee, Olympic gymnastics champion, competing at Winter Cup. Here's how to watch.
- Ruby Franke's Sister Speaks Out After YouTuber Is Sentenced to Prison for Child Abuse
- How Leonardo DiCaprio Celebrated His 50th Birthday
- Coyotes look to terminate Adam Ruzicka's contract after problematic social media video
Ranking
- Fire crews gain greater control over destructive Southern California wildfire
- Georgia bill aims to protect religious liberty. Opponents say it’s a license to discriminate
- Federal judge grants injunction in Tennessee lawsuit against the NCAA which freezes NIL rules
- The EU is watching Albania’s deal to hold asylum seekers for Italy. Rights activists are worried
- Prominent conservative lawyer Ted Olson, who argued Bush recount and same-sex marriage cases, dies
- 2 killed in Mississippi National Guard helicopter crash
- Vice Media to lay off hundreds of workers as digital media outlets implode
- Watch this missing cat come wandering home
Recommendation
-
Dwayne Johnson Admits to Peeing in Bottles on Set After Behavior Controversy
-
U.S. lunar lander is on its side with some antennas covered up, the company says
-
Marlo Hampton Exits the Real Housewives of Atlanta Before Season 16
-
Give It Up For the Best SAG Award Red Carpet Fashion Moments of All Time
-
Watch as dust storm that caused 20-car pileup whips through central California
-
Facing backlash over IVF ruling, Alabama lawmakers look for a fix
-
Alabama Senate OKs bill targeting college diversity efforts
-
Yale joins other top colleges in again requiring SAT scores, saying it will help poor applicants