A fierce wildfire threatening 4,000 homes northwest of Los Angeles was about 30 percent contained on Saturday as higher humidity and cooler temperatures helped firefighters controlling the blaze, Ventura Fire Department spokesman Tom Kruschke said, as reported by Reuters.
The wildfire in coastal Ventura County blackened about 28,000 acres of rugged brush land. It began on Thursday, and Kruschke indicated that it was not expected to be under control until May 13.
Cooler winds off the Pacific Ocean helped firefighters combat it.
"We're getting much more favorable weather conditions here. We don't have the high winds and the high temperatures," Kruschke said.
A light rain forecast for Sunday and heavier rain expected for Monday and Tuesday also could help firefighters.
About 4,000 homes have been threatened by the fire and 15 damaged. No injuries have been reported from the fire, but a firefighter and a civilian were hurt in a vehicle collision, the department's website said.
The department had moved ahead its official start date for the season by two weeks because of dry conditions, already at levels typical for June or July, Berlant said. Snow pack in California's Sierra Nevada mountains is 17 percent of normal.
Some weather forecasters have predicted the season will get worse with a summer of high temperatures and drought throughout much of the U.S. West.
The Point Mugu U.S. Naval Air Station has lifted its order that non-essential personnel stay home because of the fire. A base housing unit was evacuated on Friday because of heavy smoke.
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