Wildfires Continue to Torch Parts of Southern California
Since Monday, the fires have burned more than 670 square kilometers, destroyed at least 500 structures and forced more than 210,000 people to evacuate their homes, officials said.
As firefighters gained ground Friday, some people who evacuated their homes Monday were allowed to return to their homes.
New fires kept erupting in dry conditions, though, and were stoked by relentless westward Santa Ana winds, which are expected to gust up to 64 kilometers per hour Saturday and up to 80 kilometers per hour on Sunday.
Some 8,700 firefighters, accompanied by helicopters, continue to spray and dump water and fire retardant to slow the spread of the blazes that have erupted along the Pacific Coast from San Diego to Santa Barbara County, about 370 kilometers to the north.
President Donald Trump responded to the fires Friday by issuing a federal declaration for California, paving the way for federal agencies to help coordinate relief efforts.
The biggest and most destructive blaze is the Thomas Fire, about 90 kilometers northwest of the city of Los Angeles. It has charred nearly 580 square kilometers of land and destroyed nearly 440 structures. As firefighters made progress against the Los Angeles-area fires, most evacuation orders were lifted.
One of the newer blazes, called the Lilac Fire, broke out Thursday in San Diego County, more than 200 kilometers south of Los Angeles.
The fire burned 16 square kilometers of land in mere hours as it swept through the densely populated Rancho Monserate Country Club community and the small city of Fallbrook, home to numerous horse ranches and avocado orchards. Officials say 85 structures were quickly destroyed.
The Lilac Fire forced evacuations as it consumed rows of trailer homes.
Many of the more than 450 horses in the area were freed from their stables to avoid being trapped, said Mac McBride of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
As the horses galloped past flaming palm trees, some did not survive. Flames swept into the elite San Luis Rey Downs training facility for thoroughbreds, killing 30 to 40 thoroughbreds.
Officials said a smaller fire erupted Friday in San Diego County, about 50 kilometers east of downtown San Diego. They said the fire is small compared to the Lilac Fire and would send numerous resources to fight it.
Fires are not uncommon in Southern California this time of year, before the winter rains set in, when the vegetation is tinder dry and winds blast the region. This year, however, has been a particularly bad for California fires due to dry, hot and windy conditions that would be extreme for any season, including the winter season that is just two weeks away.
Just weeks ago, wildfires that broke out in Northern California killed 44 people and destroyed 8,900 homes and other buildings.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Tuesday wildfires have burned more than 400,000 hectares so far this year. The data does not take into account the fires currently burning.