Weather eases battle even as SoCal wildfires grow
VENTURA (Reuters) — 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 fast-moving blazes for five days from the San Diego area up the Pacific Coast to Santa Barbara County.
The fires have killed at least one person, destroyed 500 structures, hurt six people and injured four firefighters.
At the peak, about 212,000 people were forced to flee their homes. Evacuation orders were lifted in some areas, a welcome news for many in shelters waiting to see if their homes survived.
“The weather moderated today and the milder winds allowed for an increase in the number of both helicopters and air tankers that could safely complete mission dropping water and fire retardant as well as conducting reconnaissance tasks” the Ventura County Fire Department said on its website Friday evening.
US President Donald Trump on Friday issued a federal emergency declaration for California, allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate relief efforts.
Two of the most dangerous fires, in Ventura County and San Diego County, were zero- to 10-percent contained, the CAL FIRE agency reported. Billions of dollars in property is at risk.
A joint weather forecast by firefighting agencies said temperatures would remain “well above normal for the foreseeable future.”