Aircraft Make Progress Against Tough Santa Barbara County Fire
NEW CUYAMA, Calif. — Aircraft bombarded wind-driven flames Tuesday along active flanks of a 6,685-acre wildfire crackling through 75-year-old thickets of brush skirting Los Padres National Forest.
While 1,150 firefighters endured temperatures in the 90s and steep, rocky terrain, sorties by 13 air tankers and helicopters were slowing the spread of flames, said Capt. Charlie Johnson of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
“It’s an air battle. It’s literally mountain goat territory for firefighters,” Johnson said. “But firefighters made some good progress Tuesday.”
The eight tankers made fire-retardant dumps to create a fire break for the anticipated increase in so-called sundowner winds, the spokesman said, adding, “Fire activity could get fairly intense again.”
The fire was 30% surrounded Tuesday with full containment expected by Sunday if the winds cooperate, Johnson said.
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