22 From County Help Fight Fires in West

With nearly 700 fires burning in the western United States, 22 Ventura County firefighters are among those who have been summoned to help put out the blazes.

The Ventura County Fire Department has sent a strike team and one “overhead” team to assist on two fires, one to the north and one to the south.

A strike team, including three engines and 17 personnel, has been sent to the Kaweah fire, near Visalia in Tulare County.

The fire began on Tuesday and has burned close to 4,000 acres.

And five incident command personnel from Ventura County are among the nearly 1,000 people battling the 12,100-acre Wolfskill fire in Riverside County, according to a department spokeswoman.

The fire was expected to be contained Thursday night, with full control expected Saturday.

Steep terrain and winds of up to 30 mph have made fighting the fire difficult, said a spokeswoman for the Riverside County Fire Department.

Due to low moisture and high heat in the back country of Los Padres National Forest, the National Forest Service has issued fire restrictions on campfires, smoking and vehicle use within the forest.

No open camp or charcoal fires will be allowed outside of developed recreation sites.

Lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed with a valid California campfire permit.

Smoking is permitted only in enclosed vehicles, buildings, developed recreation areas and in marked smoking areas, or in barren areas at least 3 feet in diameter.

Vehicles are permitted only on roads or designated trails.

The rules will remain in effect until the area cools and receives at least 2 inches of rain.