By Michael Kuhne, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
May 18,2014; 9:08PM,EDT
As the air cools down and moistens up, firefighters are gaining ground on the wildfires across San Diego County.
At least 10 fires have scorched thousands of acres, forced the evacuation of thousands of residents and claimed more than $22 million in property damage since last week.
The causes of the fires are being investigated, according to the Associated Press.
Firefighters
plan their attack as the brush fire flares up heading toward homes
Thursday, May 15, 2014, in San Marcos, Calif. Gusty winds failed to
return Thursday morning in San Diego County wildfire areas and
authorities said it was a window of opportunity to make further gains
against flames that burned homes and drove tens of thousands from their
homes. (AP Photo)Late Thursday evening, two individuals were arrested on suspicion of trying to start a fire in Escondido, The Los Angeles Times reported.
On Friday, a 57-year-old man was charged with arson in one of the fires, the Associated Press reported.
As of Saturday night, there have been six people reported injured, three from the Cocos Fire, and three from the Bernardo Fire. There has also been one body that was found badly burned near the Carlsbad Fire, but the cause of death is still not certain.
California Governor Edmund Brown declared a state of emergency for San Diego County on Wednesday evening.
On Wednesday, a wildfire near Carlsbad claimed several homes and destroyed two commercial buildings, with early structural damage assessments estimated at $22.5 million, according to the report.
Another fire ignited on Wednesday near Camp Pendleton and has since grown to 23,000 acres or around 18 percent of the base, the Marine Corps Community Services at Camp Pendleton site reported.
Cocos Fire near San Marcos (Photo/@NWSSanDiego)By late Saturday, a fire near San Marcos had consumed more than 2,500 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The fire was 80 percent contained.
Since Jan. 1, CAL FIRE has responded to more than 1,500 wildfires. The average to date is roughly 800 according to a statewide fire summary.
A wildfire approaches homes on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, in San Marcos, California. (AP Photo)RELATED:
Southern California Visible Satellite Loop
Forecast Temperature Maps
'Elevated Concerns' for Wildfire Season Amid California, Texas Droughts
Multiple fires near San Marcos were reported to have damaged and claimed homes, according to the city's official report.
California State University in San Marcos has been evacuated and closed for the rest of the week. Commencement ceremonies scheduled for Friday and Saturday were canceled.
President Dr. Karen Haynes said on the school's website: "Canceling commencement was not a decision we took lightly and we are saddened by the circumstances. Safety continues to be our first concern."
A firenado is born out of a fire in Bonsall, California, on Thursday, May 14, 2014. (Photo/Rick Halsey, californiachaparral.org)The fires have been able to spread quickly due to heat and persistent dry winds.
Firefighters across Southern California will continue to benefit from cooler and more moist air flowing in from the Pacific Ocean through at least the first part of this week.
Gusty winds will howl across the Southwest through Monday, but will mainly be confined to the deserts and points eastward.
A gusty breeze will return to parts of Southern California later on Tuesday. These winds will be blowing in from the ocean and will not be dry Santa Ana winds.
No comments:
Post a Comment