More evacuees return but California wildfire remains dangerous

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/18/more-evacuees-return-california-wildfire

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A wildfire in the suburbs of Los Angeles was a smouldering shadow of its former self on Saturday, but hundreds of residents of a foothill neighbourhood remained evacuated and extremely dangerous fire conditions were expected to last well into the day.

Another wave of evacuees returned on Friday evening to their homes, this time in Azusa, 25 miles north-east of downtown Los Angeles, a day after their neighbours in Glendora did the same. But one Azusa neighbourhood known as Mountain Cove remained too close to the remaining fire, so its residents would have to spend another night away, Los Angeles county emergency officials said.

Flare-ups occurred within the burn area of about three square miles but none escaped the perimeter, said Mike Wakowski, commander of the multi-agency firefighting force. Containment was estimated at 30%.

"Things are progressing nicely," Wakowski said. "It's looking pretty good."

The fire erupted early on Thursday in the Angeles National Forest, when Santa Ana winds hit a campfire authorities said was recklessly set by three men. Gusts quickly spread flames from the San Gabriel Mountains into Glendora and Azusa, where some 3,700 people had to evacuate at the fire's peak. Five homes were destroyed and 17 other houses, garages and other structures were damaged, according to early assessments.

Red-flag warnings of critical danger due to the combination of winds, extremely low humidity and extraordinarily dry vegetation were repeatedly extended during the week. The National Weather Service said some warnings would remain for mountain areas until 6pm on Saturday.

The state is in a period of extended dry weather compounded in southern California by repeated periods of the regional Santa Anas, dry and powerful winds that blow from the interior toward the coast, pushing back the normal flow of moist ocean air and raising temperatures to summer-like levels.

The dry conditions statewide led Governor Jerry Brown to formally declare a drought emergency on Friday, in order to seek a range of federal assistance.

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