WILDFIRES CONTINUE TO RAGE, SPREAD TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
VENTURA— Growing wildfires chewing through parts of Southern California on Friday ravaged avocado farms, racehorse stables and a retirement community, even as milder weather aided firefighters in their efforts to slow the progress of six major blazes.
Forecasters predicted weather would continue to challenge the 8,700 firefighters, who have been battling fastmoving blazes for five days from the San Diego area up the Pacific Coast to Santa Barbara County. The fires killed at least one person, destroyed 500 structures, hurt six people and injured four firefighters.
At the fire’s peak, about 212,000 people were forced to flee their homes. Evacuation orders were lifted in some areas, welcome news for many in shelters waiting to see if their homes survived.
A 70-year-old woman died in a car crash on Wednesday with smoke inhalation and burns along an evacuation route in Santa Paula.
Two of the most dangerous fires, in Ventura County and San Diego County, were zero to 10 percent contained, according to fire officials. Billions of dollars in pieces of property were at risk.
Retirement community
A joint weather forecast by fire fighting agencies said temperatures would remain “well above normal for the foreseeable future.” Winds were expected to continue, peaking in strength on Sunday then becoming much lighter on Monday. “Ongoing fires may see significant growth on Sunday,” it said.
North of San Diego, the Lilac fire swelled to 1,659 hectares in a few hours on Thursday, prompt- ing California Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency for San Diego County. The fire destroyed 65 structures.
Fallbrook, known for its avocado orchards, burned, and homes were destroyed in its Rancho Monserate Country Club retirement community. Blazes approached the Camp Pendleton marine base.
A 500-stall stable for thoroughbred race horses at San Luis Rey Downs training site burned late on Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reported.
An estimated 25 to 30 horses died, in addition to 29 horses killed in Los Angeles earlier in the week.
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, a racetrack in a beachside community north of San Diego, said it was providing refuge for more than 900 animals, mostly horses, as well as some goats and pigs. A horse hospital was being opened on Friday.
On Twitter, animal lovers sought to reunite lost dogs with their owners and posted pleas for residents in the Los Angeles area to put out water for wild animals fleeing the fires.