CALIFORNIA
Returning Santa Ana winds set to test US fire crews
Firefighters have gained some ground battling record the wildfires but Santa Ana winds threaten to reverse gains
Ventura, California — Santa Ana winds that have stoked wildfires across southern California, destroying hundreds of buildings and forcing evacuations of at least 200,000 people, were expected to return in force on Sunday. Firefighters had gained some ground battling the fires that have burned over the past week as the winds eased on Saturday. At least one person has died. The so-called Skirball fire in Los Angeles was 75% contained, while the Creek and Rye fires in Los Angeles County were 85% and 80% contained, officials said. The largest blaze, the Thomas fire, has blackened about 63,000ha in Ventura County and was only 15% contained as of Saturday night, said the California department of forestry and fire protection. The National Weather Service was forecasting top wind speeds to increase to 88km/h on Sunday, up from the 64km/h recorded on Saturday. After gusty winds overnight, authorities early on Sunday morning ordered residents to evacuate much of Toro Canyon, a few kilometres ...
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