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Light Winds Aid LA Firefighters

But season for conflagration-fueling winds has just begun

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 15, 2008 1:18 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Firefighters made progress early today in containing two Los Angeles-area fires, as calm winds prevented the flames from blazing a path to the Pacific Ocean, the Los Angeles Times reports. The older of the two fires, the Marek blaze, was 80% contained, and firefighters have begun to cut containment lines for the second fire, which now covers 13,200 acres.

The Marek fire is expected to be fully contained by tomorrow, forest officials said. While these fires have been relatively controllable, officials warned that this is only the beginning of the Santa Ana wind season: “This was a preview of coming attractions,” said one climatologist. “Now we're in a race with Mother Nature. What comes first? More Santa Anas or rain?”

In this satellite image, a giant smoke cloud is seen drifting west over the Southern California coastline caused by two huge wildfires driven by strong Santa Ana winds.
In this satellite image, a giant smoke cloud is seen drifting west over the Southern California coastline caused by two huge wildfires driven by strong Santa Ana winds.   (AP Photo)
A hand crew cuts a fire break on a burned-out hillside in Los Angeles' Knollwood area as efforts to control wildfires in Southern California continued yesterday.
A hand crew cuts a fire break on a burned-out hillside in Los Angeles' Knollwood area as efforts to control wildfires in Southern California continued yesterday.   (AP Photo)
A firefighter tries to put out the fire on a home engulfed in flames just west of Porter Ranch in Los Angeles.
A firefighter tries to put out the fire on a home engulfed in flames just west of Porter Ranch in Los Angeles.   (AP Photo)
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Santa Ana winds blowing half as fast as on Monday
Bloomberg

Fire near Camp Pendleton nearly contained
San Diego Union-Tribune

 
Los Angeles • winds • firefighters • wildfires • Santa Ana winds • California wildfires • fire

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