Los Angeles Fires Tamed, But Fears Of Worse To Come

FIRE STORMS

A worker of a telephone company walks near burned trees in Chatsworth, California, 30 September 2005. An army of firefighters Friday got the upper hand in a battle against wildfires that have charred 8,000 hectares (20,000 acres) of suburban Los Angeles, forcing 410 people to flee their homes. Helped by improving weather, more than 3,000 firefighters backed by a flotilla of helicopters began to control the fires raging through the residential San Fernando Valley northwest of the second largest US city. AFP photo by Hector Mata.

Los Angeles (AFP) Oct 04, 2005
Firefighters had Tuesday all but tamed wildfires that ravaged more than 100 square kilometers (40 square miles) of suburban Los Angeles and forced hundreds of people to flee their homes last week.

But as the army of firefighters finally brought under control the blazes that began six days ago, a new fire erupted and weather officials warned that worse could still be to come as California's fire season got underway.

A fire that charred 9,670 hectares (24,175 acres) of the San Fernando Valley, prompting more than 450 people to evacuate in its path last week, was 95 percent contained, while a smaller blaze raging in the heavily populated Burbank area was 100 percent under control, officers said.

"Right now, we're mopping up and covering a lot of ground," said Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Ron Haralson of the largest blaze, dubbed the Topanga fire, which broke out last Wednesday.

To the east, on the hills above Burbank, the home of the Warner Bros. and Walt Disney movie studios, a 440-hectare (1,100-acre) fire that began on Friday was all but out.

"We had a couple of flareups last night, but we have 100 percent containment this morning, and we're mopping up now," said Burbank fire Captain Ron Bell.

"The winds in Burbank are very calm, but we have contingency plans in place in case it flares up again," Bell said, adding that some firefighters would remain in the area for days to douse hot spots.

But as the firefighters announced the good news, Mother Nature looked set to spoil their success as the seasonal and hot Santa Ana winds that notoriously fan flames in southern California roared back to life.

Meteorologists issued a "red flag" fire warning as winds of between 40 to 56 kilometers per hour (25 and 35 miles) with gusts of up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour, were expected in the mountains of Los Angeles on Tuesday.

"A red flag warning means that critical fire-weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly," said a National Weather Service advisory.

"A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential."

September and October traditionally mark the start of disaster-prone southern California's annual wildfire season as warm winds, tinder-dry brush and a random spark or flame combine to wreak havoc on the desert-like region.

Two years ago, the worst wildfires in the state's history ripped through large swathes of the state in October 2003, obliterating nearly 3,000 square kilometers (1,158 square miles) of land and forcing more than 100,000 people out of their homes.

The blazes, which broke out in hot, dry and windy weather, spread fast, killing 22 people and injuring at least 181 others.

More than 15,000 firefighters were brought in from across the United States to battle the series of 17 blazes that charred 4,500 buildings, most of them homes.

FIRE STORMS

Portuguese Firefighters Battle Uncontrolled Blazes

Lisbon (AFP) Oct 03, 2005
Hundreds of firefighters struggled Monday to put out 10 uncontrolled blazes which raged across drought-hit Portugal, including one which threatened the outskirts of a central port city.

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