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California wildfires strain state's resources
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-07-06 13:35

LOS ANGELES -- A wildfire threatening thousands of homes in Southern California spread slowly through scenic canyonlands Saturday, straining resources as crews struggled to contain hundreds of other blazes around the state.


Firefighters monitor a burning redwood tree along Highway 1 in Big Sur, Calif., Saturday, July 5, 2008. Cooler temperatures and marine fog allowed firefighters here to gain some ground early Saturday on an obstinate wildfire that wiped out this world-famous coastal retreat's holiday tourist trade. [Agencies]

"The firefighters are stretched thin, they are exhausted," and some have gone days without sleep, said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who visited a command post in Santa Barbara County.

A slew of wildfires, most ignited by lightning two weeks ago, has burned more than 800 square miles of land throughout California. The blazes have destroyed at least 69 homes and other buildings and contributed to the death of a firefighter who suffered a heart attack while digging fire lines.

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About 1,400 fires have been contained, but more than 330 still burned out of control Saturday.

Schwarzenegger said the state's top priority was in the coastal region of Santa Barbara County, where nearly 2,700 homes were threatened by a four-day-old fire in the Los Padres National Forest that has consumed about 13 square miles.

Cooler, moist air Saturday morning kept the fire sluggish and helped firefighters trying to surround it, said Pat Wheatley, county spokeswoman. The fire was 24 percent contained, she said.

"It's just spreading in each direction, but they are holding the line beautifully," she said.

A red sunset is seen in Pismo Beach, Calif. due to the fires burning in the Santa Ynez Mountains and Big Sur, Calif., on Saturday July 5, 2008. [Agencies]

Crews hoped to make more progress before the return of late afternoon "sundowner" winds that on Friday evening sent flames racing up to homes.

More than 2,600 homes were under mandatory evacuation Saturday, and residents in another 1,400 were warned to be ready to flee if the flames gathered speed.

Wheatley said the mandatory evacuation orders were partially lifted later Saturday, allowing some residents of Goleta to return, but she did not know how many homes were affected.

The fire, which was burning in 15-foot-high, half-century-old chaparral, had the potential to roll through a hilly area of ranches, housing tracts and orchards between the town of Goleta and Santa Barbara.

"The advice is that you get prepared, that you get your belongings together and you stay very watchful," Wheatley said.

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