Winds Slow in Fire's 'Halftime'

Waning Santa Ana winds brought reprieve and progress—albeit temporary—for the firemen battling wildfires around Los Angeles, the Times reports. One nearly 5,000-acre fire near Lake View Terrace is now 70% contained, but a second in Porter Ranch doubled in size overnight. “This thing is not out. This thing is not over,” warned one fire inspector. “This is halftime. Don’t get comfortable.”

So far the fires have consumed 26,000 acres and 64 buildings, leaving two dead. Authorities have raised a terrifying worst-case scenario: that the Porter Ranch fire burns a 15-mile path west, all the way to the Pacific Ocean. (More California wildfires stories.)