Progress made in putting out fires
As Southern California temperatures soared Monday, firefighters across the state were kept busy battling blazes, and they made steady progress despite the severely dry conditions and record-low rainfall this year.
The 482-acre Rancho fire in the Los Padres National Forest, northwest of Santa Barbara, was 90% contained Monday night. The fire broke out about 6 p.m. Saturday and quickly traveled uphill between the Santa Ynez River and Paradise Road, about five miles east of the road’s junction with Highway 154, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Robert Rainwater.
There were no injuries and no property was damaged. The cause is still under investigation. Officials expect to fully contain the blaze today.
About 580 firefighters are still on the scene, officials said.
Meanwhile, the Angora fire in South Lake Tahoe, which burned about 3,100 acres, was declared 100% contained early Monday, after more than a week of intense firefighting, officials said.
The blaze broke out about 2 p.m. June 23, and is believed to have been caused by an illegal campfire in the Seneca Pond area east of Angora Lakes, said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Connie Chaney.
About 254 homes and 75 outbuildings were destroyed by the fire, and 14 homes were damaged, officials said. The roughly 3,500 people forced to evacuate their homes because of the fire were allowed back Saturday. Officials estimate that property damage costs will be at least $150 million.
About 310 emergency personnel, including 150 firefighters, will remain to monitor areas within the perimeter of the fire and put out any hot spots until the blaze is completely extinguished, Chaney said. At its high point, more than 2,000 firefighters battled the blaze. As of Monday, the fire had cost $11.3 million to suppress.
Three firefighters suffered minor injuries, officials said.
At a news conference Monday morning, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger warned Californians that the hot temperatures and dry conditions will require extra precautions and that they should obey fire laws at all times.
“We are facing a very, very dangerous fire season,” Schwarzenegger said. “We want to just let people know they ought to be very, very careful.”
Times staff writer Patrick McGreevy contributed to this report.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
