GAVIOTA, Calif. (AP) -- Firefighters on Wednesday made major inroads against a fire that has burned 7,440 acres in Santa Barbara County, authorities said.
Firefighters put out hot spots fanned by winds up to 30 mph in the east and south regions of the fire perimeter, said Maeton Freel, spokesman for the Los Padres National Forest.
Freel said firefighters got a break by Wednesday evening, when the winds diminished and a mist had moved in from the ocean.
The fire, which been burning for five days, was about 60 percent contained and full containment was expected Thursday, he said.
Winds up to 40 mph on Tuesday pushed the fire near homes in Arroyo Hondo Canyon, about four miles east of El Capitan State Beach, but residents were allowed to return Wednesday.
Authorities said Highway 101 was reopened after wind-blown winds forced periodic closures of the highway in both directions.
``The hand crews worked their little butts off today,'' said Charlie Johnson, a spokesman for Santa Barbara County fire. ``We had a couple hot spots that burned out but it didn't grow.''
About 1,400 firefighters were battling the blaze, aided by 15 helicopters. One-quarter of the blaze was in the Los Padres National Forest.
Residents in scattered canyon homes on Refugio Road, about 2 1/2 miles east of the flames, were notified that the fire was nearby but were not asked to leave, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Joe Pasinato.
One home in an isolated area has been destroyed and three outbuildings were damaged by the blaze. Workers were repairing damaged train trestles south of Gaviota, Pasinato said.
No major injuries were reported. Authorities said 16 firefighters suffered minor injuries, including 13 who got poison oak.
The fire broke out before noon Saturday in a section of the Gaviota Pass, about 27 miles north of Santa Barbara, and burned across narrow canyons and steep hillsides covered with chaparral. The cause is under investigation.
Elsewhere, a wildfire ballooned to 3,500 acres Wednesday in eastern Arizona's Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, said Dorman McGann, a spokesman for the crew fighting the fire.
Winds blowing 30 to 40 mph were expected with gusts up to 60 mph.
The 51,685-acre Peppin fire in south-central New Mexico was 80 percent contained, and crews were securing the western flank and patrolling for hot spots. About 125 people battled the blaze Wednesday. The fire in the Lincoln National Forest has burned 12 cabins since it began May 15.
