Cool weather helps firefighters make gains in Calif. blazes

[Omaha Steve]

Source: USA Today

Natalie DiBlasio and Elizabeth Weise,

SAN FRANCISCO — As cooler weather helped firefighters make gains against a string of six dangerous wildfires raging in Southern California, police announced an arrest in connection with one of the blazes that broke out in San Diego County this week.

The hot, dry Santa Ana winds diminished Friday, allowing firefighters to make progress containing the blazes. Sometimes called "devil winds," the Santa Anas are often associated with wildfires.

The largest of the six, the Las Pulgas Fire in San Diego County, has burned 15,000 acres and was 40% contained at 9 a.m. local time Saturday.

Altogether, the wildfires about 30 miles north of San Diego have caused more than $20 million in damage.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/17/southern-calif-fire-arson/9207141/

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A firefighter puts out a small spot fire in San Marcos, Calif.

(Photo: AP)

[Bee_stung]

1. May have already seen this

Was taken on the top of Stone Brewery's (yuppy and tasteless- odd, great brew, just bad atmosphere) restaurant, just on the last day of the santa ana. All three nights of the santa ana were nice, cool ambient air, but before mid morning, the winds would reverse and would heat up and dry up to near spontaneous combustion levels. This was as the fire had already crested the well-to-do mansions on the hills above and was creeping into the sleepy down to earth neighborhoods below. Fortunately this was on the markedly last dry hot day and this whole next week looks more like what we seasonably should have.

[link:

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