Los Angeles. Favorable weather conditions helped fire crews gain greater control over a wildfire in Southern California that has destroyed 134 structures and damaged dozens more, authorities reported Sunday.
The Mountain Fire is now 26 percent contained in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles, compared to 21 percent Saturday night.
The size of the fire remains at around 83 square kilometers.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, while inspection teams continue to assess the damage.
Evacuation orders were reduced to warnings Saturday for residents in several areas of Ventura County as wind gusts eased and firefighters were aided by milder temperatures and lower humidity.
“The fire continues to advance slowly and burn in steep and rugged terrain. “Threats to critical infrastructure, roads and communities remain,” according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, better known as Cal Fire.
The fire began Wednesday morning and expanded rapidly with the arrival of the Santa Ana winds, dry and warm gusts coming from the northeast. The flames forced thousands of residents to leave the area and threatened 3,500 structures in suburban neighborhoods, ranches and agricultural areas in the vicinity of the community of Camarillo.
Officials who assessed the impact on avocado, citrus and berry crops estimated the damage reached $2.4 million, according to the newspaper. Ventura County Star.
A new round of Santa Ana winds is forecast for Tuesday, but humidity is expected to increase and gusts are not expected to reach heights as high as those that fueled the fire, said Ryan Walbrun of the National Weather Service.
The region northwest of Los Angeles has seen some of California’s most destructive fires over the years. The Mountain Fire rapidly expanded from about 1.2 square kilometers (less than half a square mile) to 41 square kilometers in just over five hours Wednesday, with gusts exceeding 60 mph.
Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in Ventura County.
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