Weather Aids S. Calif. Firefighters

Posted on Jul 7, 2008

AP photo / Phil Klein

A firefighter walks out of a brush fire burning out of control in the Santa Ynez Mountains near Goleta, Calif. A slew of wildfires, most ignited by lightning two weeks ago, has burned more than 800 square miles throughout California.

Lower temperatures and higher humidity helped crews battling wildfires in Southern California early Monday morning. Fires in the state have laid waste to more than 800 square miles in recent weeks. Many thousands of acres remain ablaze. [Update]

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AP via Google:

LOS ANGELES—Firefighters took advantage of cooler temperatures and higher humidity overnight to make progress containing a blaze burning through the mountains in Santa Barbara County before hotter, drier conditions return.

... Temperatures are forecast to start climbing Monday and to reach the 90s by Thursday. The moist air currents are expected to dissipate, causing drier conditions, [official spokesperson Dixie] Dies said. Lightning strikes also were possible as a new weather system moves in, forecasters said.

... Wildfires have burned more than 800 square miles of land and destroyed at least 69 homes throughout California, mainly in the northern part of the state, in the past two weeks. One firefighter died of a heart attack while digging fire lines.

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