Evacuation orders lifted as crews slow spread of wildfire near Los Angeles
The South Fire in Ventura County, California, prompted evacuations and threatened "critical infrastructure and oil infrastructure," but those have since been lifted.
Bulldozers cut containment lines overnight in California wildfire
The driver of a bulldozer took video of the machine cutting containment lines overnight in the burning hills.
LOS ANGELES – Firefighters battled tropical-storm-force wind gusts to wrestle control of a fast-moving wildfire just 60 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The South Fire is 50% contained and already burned 2,715 acres, according to Cal Fire.
The Ventura County wildfire prompted evacuations and threatened "critical infrastructure and oil infrastructure," according to the situation summary. Evacuation Warnings and Evacuation Orders were lifted Sunday afternoon.
As night fell on Saturday, flames lit up the Saticoy Country Club area, which was evacuated.
(Ventura County Sheriffs Office / FOX Weather)
Gusty, dry Santa Ana winds spread fire
The National Weather Service continued fire weather alerts across much of Southern California through Saturday and into Sunday afternoon. Sustained winds were forecast to reach 25 mph and gust to 50 mph, with relative humidity in the 7% to 12% range thanks to offshore, or Santa Ana, winds.
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Windy conditions drive fires across Southern California
Firefighters worked the South Fire in Ventura County that quickly burned more than 300 acres on Saturday and forced evacuations.
The utility company had shut off power in order to prevent electrical lines from sparking new blazes. As of Monday, all but 37 utility customers had their power restored.
On Sunday, more than 600 firefighters worked to contain the fire, the cause of which is still under investigation. Helicopter crews worked through the night to try to extinguish hot spots and build containment lines, according to Ventura County officials.
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A helicopter caught aerial views of flames fanned by the offshore winds.
(Ventura County Fire Air Unit)
Elm Fire
On the other side of Los Angeles, the Elm Fire grew at a much slower rate near the town of Cabazon.
Cal Fire reported the blaze in Riverside County started as a vegetation fire and grew to about 65 acres. The blaze is 80% contained.
Firefighters used both ground and air resources to attack the flames, and there were no immediate reports of any homes threatened. Cal Fire said the "forward rate of spread has been stopped."
Forecasters warned the risk of increased fire danger would return by midweek with another episode of strong Santa Ana winds.
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The Elm Fire burned at least 50 acres in Riverside County on Saturday.
(Alert California / FOX Weather)
Sitting pretty when it comes to drought
Relatively speaking, the Golden State is sitting pretty when it comes to facing drought conditions.
As of the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, less than 4% of the state was unusually dry, and, at least for the year, no communities were officially in a drought.
A series of atmospheric river events that are a product of El Niño are expected to keep the state in a rainy pattern through the winter season.
The increased precipitation comes on the heels of a record-breaking snowpack during the 2022-23 season.
More than a dozen atmospheric river events during the winter months erased much of the state’s short-term drought.
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(FOX Weather)