Firefighters race to contain California wildfires as winds set to strengthen

Firefighters in SouthernCalifornia were under pressure on Saturday to contain six ragingwildfires, which have destroyed hundreds of buildings and forcedtens of thousands of people to flee, before fierce winds areexpected to strengthen again.

The six major wildfires that erupted throughout SouthernCalifornia in the past week have killed at least one person, destroyed hundreds of buildings, forced more than 200,000 peopleto flee and choked the air across much of the region.

Forecasters predict wind gusts to become more intense bySaturday night, challenging the 8,700 firefighters who have beenbattling the fast-moving blazes for five days, from the San Diegoarea up the Pacific Coast to Santa Barbara County.

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The winds "potentially put the fires that are currentlyburning at risk of spreading," said Lynne Tolmachoff, spokesperson for California Department of Forestry and FireProtection.

The fires killed at least one person, destroyed 500 structures, hurt sixpeople and injured four firefighters.

California Gov. Jerry Brown on Saturday toured Ventura County neighbourhoods ravaged by the fires.

At a news conference, Brown said drought and climate change mean California faces a "new reality" where lives and property are continually threatened by fire, at a cost of billions of dollars.

He added that gusty winds and low humidity are continuing and warned that there's a good chance of seeing "firefighting at Christmas."

The spreading fires prompted Brown to issue emergencyproclamations earlier this week for Santa Barbara, San Diego,Los Angeles and Ventura counties, while U.S. President DonaldTrump issued a federal proclamation that enables agencies toco-ordinate relief efforts.

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The fires have put property worth billions of dollars atrisk in California, where wildfires in the northern part of the state in October resulted in insured losses of more than $9billion. Those fires, concentrated in the state's wine country, killed 43 people.

The current fires, which have threatened Californians fromnear Santa Barbara County down the Pacific coast to Mexico, haveclaimed at least one human casualty.

Officials determined late Friday that a 70-year-old VenturaCounty woman who died after a car crash along an evacuationroute on Wednesday suffered smoke inhalation and burns, theVentura County Star newspaper reported, citing medical examinerChristopher Young.

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Ventura County officials, who have contained 15 per cent ofthe Thomas Fire, said they expect to increase their containmentof the blaze later on Saturday.

At their peak, the fires drove about 212,000 Californiansfrom their homes. Evacuation orders now have been lifted in someareas, welcome news for many in shelters waiting to see if theirhomes survived.

North of San Diego, the Lilac Fire destroyed 105 structuresafter swelling to 1,659 hectares ina few hours on Thursday.

Nearly two dozen thoroughbred horses said to be killed in California fires

7 years ago

Duration 0:50

Fire swept through training centre as staff set herd loose

Fallbrook, known for its avocado orchards, burned, and homeswere destroyed in its Rancho Monserate Country Club retirementcommunity. Blazes approached the Camp Pendleton marine base.

A 500-stall stable for thoroughbred race horses at San LuisRey Downs training site burned late on Thursday, the Los AngelesTimes reported.

An estimated 25 to 30 horses died, in addition to 29 horseskilled in Los Angeles earlier in the week. A trainer suffered second- and third-degree burns over half her body trying torescue horses, the newspaper said. She was airlifted to a SanDiego hospital and placed in a medically induced coma.