California Firefighters Battle To Keep Wildfire From LA County Homes
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (AP) -- Firefighters battled Monday to save hundreds of homes threatened by a stubborn wildfire that broke out over the weekend in tinder-dry brush and raced over hillsides and through canyons in northern Los Angeles County.
Although no structures have been lost, nearly 1,600 homes have been evacuated since the fire began Saturday. It was ignited when a red-tailed hawk flew into a power line, was electrocuted and its flaming body fell into brush left dry by years of little rain.
The wildfire had spread across 5,710 acres by Monday and was only 39 percent contained, just a slight improvement from Sunday's 35-percent figure. Firefighters were using water-dropping helicopters to slow the flames as bulldozer operators and hand crews working in 90-degree temperatures rushed to cut a line around the blaze.
``They didn't make as much progress last night, not as much as we wanted,'' said Los Angeles County fire Inspector Ed Osorio. ``Today, our main concern is structure protection and making sure the homes aren't damaged.''
The blaze, known as the Foothill fire, was one of several burning across more than 40,000 acres of California from eastern San Diego County to Yosemite National Park.
One of the largest of the others was the Melton fire, 90 miles east of Los Angeles in Riverside County. The fire, which has destroyed four mobile homes, 14 vehicles, 14 outbuildings, one motor home and one travel trailer, was 65 percent contained Monday, with full containment expected by Tuesday morning.
More than 1,500 firefighters were battling the Foothill fire. Three were treated at a hospital for minor injuries, said fire Inspector John Mancha.
Evacuation orders were lifted for one neighborhood, Fair Oaks Ranch, after the fire burned through the area without destroying any homes. Hundreds of people remained out of their houses in Sand and Placerita canyons, however.
Only about 10 people stayed overnight at a Red Cross center at College of the Canyons, although some people with animals, including dogs, cats and a llama, were seen camping out in parking lots.
On Sunday the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved a request for federal funds for the Foothill fire, one of six such requests from California during the past week.
FEMA also approved funding for the 3,600-acre Melton fire, which has also resulted in evacuation orders for residents of hundreds of homes. Mandatory evacuation orders for about 500 homes were lifted Sunday, but a voluntary evacuation order remained in effect for about 200 others, said Jim Boano, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry.
Authorities said the fire was started by a target shooter whose name was not released. The person was given a citation and may have to pay costs of fighting the fire, Boano said.
Elsewhere, firefighters continued to make steady progress against the massive Pine Fire that has been burning about 45 miles north of Los Angeles since July 12.
The fire was about 80 percent contained Sunday after scorching 17,418 acres of land and destroying three homes and five outbuildings. All of the nearly 1,000 people whose homes were evacuated have been allowed to return, and full containment is expected by Friday.
Funeral services were held Monday for fire Capt. Daniel Elkins, 47, who was killed in a traffic accident last Tuesday as he drove home from the fire line.
In Yosemite National Park, the lightning-sparked wildfire that has closed a number of trails was being allowed to grow on one front but was otherwise mostly contained, park officials said. The blaze has burned across 3,727 acres.
``We're very concerned about the impact it's having on residents and visitors in the valley,'' said fire information officer Marty O'Toole.
All campgrounds in the park were open but three trails remained closed Monday.
In San Diego County, a nearly 9,000-acre fire was extinguished Sunday afternoon and a 92-acre fire was fully contained Sunday night.
