A massive wildfire in Southern California made progress on Saturday, with firefighters aided by slower winds and favorable weather conditions. The Mountain Fire has burned over 32 square miles and is 21% contained, according to authorities. Evacuation orders have been downgraded to warnings for several areas of Ventura County.
Firefighters took advantage of lighter winds, mild temperatures, and low humidity to make significant gains. “We had a very successful day with the favorable weather,” said Ventura County Fire Battalion Chief Nick Cleary.
The fire broke out on Wednesday morning and exploded in size amid strong gusty winds. Over 100 structures have been destroyed, and another 25 damaged, with estimated damages reaching $2.4 million.
Smoky air is expected to linger for several days, but weather conditions are expected to remain favorable through the weekend. A second round of northeast winds is forecasted for Tuesday, but humidity is expected to rise, reducing gusts.
The region has seen some of California’s most destructive fires in recent years. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Ventura County due to the fire.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/california-mountain-fire-winds-structures-destroyed-2a5d282ccddfa82733f46842a22599a7