Containment on Massive California Wildfire Increases

Containment has increased on a wildfire north of Los Angeles, which has grown to more than 58 square miles.

Officials report the blaze is 25 percent surrounded as of today, and most of the evacuation orders affecting 10,000 homes were lifted Monday night.

The fire erupted Friday afternoon in Santa Clarita, roughly 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

Crews took advantage of calmer winds and cooler temperatures overnight as they set backfires to slow the spread of the fire.

Most of the roughly 20,000 evacuees forced out by the blaze were cleared to go home Monday, however the fire is still only partially contained.

Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp says firefighters saved about 2,000 houses in the fire’s first three days.

Crews made gains Monday on a blaze in the scenic Big Sur region of the Central Coast roughly 300 miles to the northwest. That fire has destroyed 20 homes.

Related:

• California Wildfires Gut Homes, Force Evacuations
• Wildfire Threat in California, Southwest High in July
• California Wildfire Grows, Fires Threaten Communities around West

Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire