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California Firefighters Continue Battling Blazes, Even as Winds Subside

VOA News

   Firefighters continued to battle wildfires in California Friday,
   including a new fast-moving blaze in southern California.

   Officials said a brush fire north of Los Angeles, known as the Maria
   Fire, grew to 3,700 hectares (9,100 acres) Friday after erupting late
   Thursday afternoon, despite calmer weather conditions that helped
   firefighters throughout the state.

   Officials said the fire in Ventura County forced officials to order
   evacuations for 8,000 people and said the blaze destroyed at least two
   structures.

   The Santa Ana winds, which blow dry air from the desert and have fueled
   fires across the state, began to die down Friday and more typical winds
   that blow from the ocean inland began to return. However, firefighters
   said the state is not out of danger, noting the change in winds exposes
   new areas to the threat of fire.

   "We are finding that the winds are starting to change and that presents
   its own challenges all by itself," Ventura County Fire Chief Mark
   Lorenzen said.

   Erratic winds are expected to persist in Southern California through
   Saturday.

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