CAMARILLO, Calif., May 5 (UPI) — Calmer weather conditions helped as firefighters in California started to take control of a wildfire burning in Ventura County, officials said.
The blaze has scorched about 28,000 acres and damaged 15 homes and five commercial buildings since it started Thursday, but as of Saturday was 59 percent contained, the Los Angeles Times reported.
An evacuation order for the area has been lifted, allowing about about 5,000 residents to return home.
Some officials accredited the drop in the fire’s intensity to a change in the weather on Saturday, which was cooler and had a light breeze.
“The activity has dropped dramatically,” said Cal Fire Deputy Chief Mike Parkes about the fire in relation to the weather.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Fernando Herrera said officials expect to have the fire fully contained by Monday.
“This isn’t baby-sitting quite yet,” said Ventura County Fire Capt. Wayne Farber. “We have to put a line around the fire. … Cross your fingers there will be rain in a couple days. … There’s still a lot of hard, dirty work to still be done.”
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