US News

4,400 firefighters battle southern California blaze

Sep 28, 2006, 21:35 GMT

Los Angeles - More than 4,400 firefighters were desperately trying to contain a stubborn fire Thursday that has grown to the fifth largest in California history as worsening weather conditions threatened to fan the blaze. The so-called Day Fire was ignited at the start of the month by someone burning building debris and as of noon Thursday had burned through some 650 square kilometres in Los Padres National Forest, about 120 kilometres north of Los Angeles. So far no injuries have occurred and no homes have been destroyed. But meteorologists are forecasting the start of the region's infamous Santa Ana winds - strong warm breezes that blow in from the south east every autumn - which are a major catalyst of wildfires every year. 'We are expecting extremely low humidities today and winds,' said fire information officer Greg Cleveland, of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. 'These low humidities and hot temperatures makes for explosive conditions.' © 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

US News

4,400 firefighters battle southern California blaze

On the Web

Your Talkback on this Story

Similar articles

Latest Headlines in US

Older Talkback

Like M&C on Facebook

Viral Web

In Monsters and Critics

Corporate

The Fine Print