High winds threatened to return Sunday in Southern California as firefighters work to contain the wildfires that destroyed hundreds of homes and killed at least one person, a day after Gov. Jerry Brown warned the flames could be “the new normal” in the state.
Winds up to 55 mph forecasted on Sunday threatened to flare up existing blazes or spread new ones. The coastal towns of Carpinteria and Montecito in Santa Barbara County were under siege as firefighters worked to contain the flames that took down one house “advanced” to other houses on another road. More evacuations were ordered overnight, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Firefighters were able to make some progress containing the six major blazes on Saturday after the Santa Ana winds — which have caused the wildfires to quickly spread throughout the region — calmed down on Saturday.
“The fire continues to threaten structures in various parts of the cities of Ventura, Ojai, Casitas Springs, Santa Paula, Carpinteria, Fillmore and the unincorporated areas of Ventura County and Matilija Canyon,” California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection wrote in an update on its website Saturday night.
A brush fire broke out in Monrovia in Los Angeles County Saturday night, but it was quickly contained after a swift response from firefighters. No structures were damaged and crews watched for hotspots throughout the night.
What Are Your Thoughts?
