Firefighters advance on destructive blaze in California, aided by slower winds
Warnings for residents in Ventura County in Southern California have been downgraded
Southern California firefighters gained ground on Saturday on a wildfire that has ravaged more than 100 structures as gusty winds subsided with favourable weather expected through the weekend.
Evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings for residents in several areas of Ventura County, where the mountain fire held at around 32 square miles (about 83 square kilometres) and was 21 per cent contained, authorities said.
Firefighters were aided by lighter winds, mild temperatures, and low humidity, which let fuels dry out and burn off quickly, according to meteorologists from the National Weather Service.
“We had a very successful day with the favourable weather,” Ventura County Fire Battalion Chief Nick Cleary told reporters.
The fire broke out on Wednesday morning and exploded in size amid the arrival of dry, warm and gusty northeast Santa Ana winds, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes and threatening 3,500 structures in suburban neighbourhoods, ranches, and agricultural areas around the community of Camarillo.
More than 100 structures were destroyed and another 25 damaged, fire officials said on Saturday after inspection teams fanned out to evaluate the impact of the disaster. Agriculture officials assessing the toll on farmland sown with avocado, citrus, and berries estimated the damage at US$2.4 million, the Ventura County Star reported.
