Crews try to corral three SoCal wildfires before return of hot, dry winds
Pastor Dale Morgan
Crews try to corral three SoCal wildfires before return of hot, dry winds*
Updated 9/21/2006 9:21 AM ET
The Associated Press
LAKE ARROWHEAD, Calif. — Firefighters made steady progress as they raced
to contain three separate wildfires in Southern California before the
expected return of the hot, dry Santa Ana winds.
Cooler weather, lighter winds and higher humidity on Wednesday helped
reduce the spread of flames, which have burned about 160 square miles.
Similar conditions were forecast for Thursday, which should help
firefighters carve firebreaks before the predicted return of Santa Ana
winds on Friday.
"The weather's pretty moderate so they're trying to hit it with
everything they've got," U.S. Forest Service spokesman Maeton Freel said
about one of the fires, in Los Padres National Forest.
The blaze, sparked on Labor Day by someone burning debris, has scorched
99,950 acres, or nearly 156 square miles in an area 75 miles northwest
of Los Angeles. It was 35% contained.
The town of Lockwood Valley, about seven miles from the edge of the
fire, remained under voluntary evacuation.
Ramona Moloski, 68, said she could see smoke billowing over a hill about
five miles from her home. A firefighter came to her door Wednesday
afternoon and urged her to be ready to leave.
"He said, 'don't get trapped back here,'" Moloski said. "It's about two
miles to get out of here on a one-way road. I'm very concerned."
More than 2,000 firefighters and 34 aircraft were fighting the blaze,
with many concentrated on its active, northeastern end. The fire has
cost $22.7 million to fight.
Meanwhile, a 2,500-acre fire in the San Bernardino National Forest was
burning northeast of Lake Arrowhead, about 80 miles east of Los Angeles.
It was 55% contained after flames closed Highway 173. Two firefighters
were injured when a Bureau of Land Management water truck overturned.
Their injuries were not considered life-threatening.
The fire was moving into an area overgrown with dry grass and brush. It
would have to cross a ravine and creek then travel several miles before
reaching hundreds of homes.
Another fire was burning 10 miles north of La Canada Flintridge in
Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles. It was 45% contained after
burning 250 acres and prompting authorities to close a portion of
Angeles Crest Highway, said forest spokeswoman Kathy Peterson.