Calif. Wildfire Burns Slow and Steady
Pastor Dale Morgan
Calif. Wildfire Burns Slow and Steady*
Thursday September 28, 2006 8:46 PM
LOCKWOOD VALLEY, Calif. (AP) - Fire crews kept watch on homes as a
wildfire moved slowly and steadily through heavy brush in rural Southern
California Thursday.
By mid-morning, there was low humidity, which threatened efforts to
contain one of the largest and longest-burning wildfires in state
history. But the winds were moderate, with no return of the hot, gusting
Santa Anas that have driven the flames during the past two weekend.
``We're not out of the woods yet,'' said Dee Bechert, a U.S. Forest
Service spokeswoman.
The fire was 43 percent contained after burning 159,281 acres, or nearly
249 square miles, of wilderness in Los Padres National Forest. More than
4,400 firefighters were working to corral the blaze about 70 miles north
of Los Angeles.
On Wednesday, the flames crept within a half-mile of Lockwood Valley and
other mountain communities. Firefighters spent the day clearing brush
near houses and positioning equipment and hoses to fight the slow-moving
flames.
Elsewhere, hand crews, aided by water-dropping aircraft, cut fire lines
around the flames.
The blaze has destroyed two barns, three trailers, a cabin and five
vehicles, but firefighters were able to save 40 homes, an animal refuge
and a Boy Scout camp, Bechert said.
``It was good day, the lines held for the most part in the Lockwood
Valley area, but we're still nervous about the red flag warning'' for
extreme fire conditions in the area, she said.
Residents of Lockwood Valley, Pine Mountain Club, Pinon Pines, Cuddy
Valley, Camp Scheidek and Lake of the Woods were urged to evacuate, but
many chose to stay. The community of Frazier Park was under a
lower-level alert.
The fire has burned since Labor Day and flared several times, sometimes
covering thousands of acres in hours. It was started by someone burning
debris.
``It's frustrating. You keep putting the fire to bed and it gets up and
makes runs on you,'' said Ventura County fire Capt. Barry Parker.
Firefighting costs have topped $53 million. The Federal Emergency
Management Agency has authorized the use of federal funds to cover some
expenses.
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