Heat and Wind Plague Crews as They Battle Wildfires

Firefighters slowly made progress against California’s raging wildfires Saturday despite high temperatures and erratic winds.

Elsewhere, a wildfire in Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado swelled to 3,500 acres Saturday and was burning on a mesa near several ancient cliff dwellings. Because of the cliff dwellings’ locations and lack of surrounding vegetation, they are not in danger from the flames, said Rob Morrison of the Durango interagency dispatch center.

In California, a fire near the Pechanga Indian Reservation had consumed 9,108 acres and was 25% contained--an increase of 10% in two days. No structures were threatened.

Authorities believe the blaze, five miles east of Temecula and 40 miles north of San Diego, was started by a person, said Carla Sousa, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry. An investigation was underway.

Firefighters continued to be hampered by steep terrain, high temperatures, erratic winds and low humidity. The temperature was expected to climb to 98 degrees Saturday in Temecula, with even higher temperatures expected later.

“The heat is going to be climbing up this weekend. It’s going to be problematic,” Sousa said.

Two firefighters who suffered burns Thursday were upgraded to stable condition Friday at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, said a nursing supervisor.

Elsewhere, the massive Manter fire, which has burned nearly 73,000 acres near the Sequoia National Forest, was 80% contained and personnel were being diverted to other locations, said Lee Bentley, a fire information officer for the U.S. Forest Service.

“Things are looking really good,” he said.

The Mesa Verde fire is expected to become a high-priority fire as dozens of wildfires burn across the country, Morrison said.

None of the park’s ancient Indian dwellings was damaged by the earlier fire, but tourist traffic dwindled and local businesses suffered. More than a third of the 52,000-acre park burned during the 10-day blaze.