250-plus SoCal wildfire 75 percent contained
Associated Press
11/17/09 8:30 PM PST
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| An Orange County Fire Authority firefighter stands on a ridge next to the Ortega Highway fire near San Juan Capistrano, Calif., Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. (Sam Gangwer,Orange County Register/AP) |
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIF. — Cold weather and calm winds are helping firefighters in their battle against a wildfire in southern Orange County.
Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Greg McKeown says the fire was 95 percent contained Tuesday night. Officials expect to have it surrounded by Wednesday afternoon.
McKeown says helicopters flew the perimeter to map the blaze and determined that it had consumed 145 acres, down from earlier estimates of 250 acres.
The fire is smoldering in a bowl-shaped valley full of dense brush about a dozen miles northeast of San Juan Capistrano. No homes are nearby.
About 200 firefighters are on the scene. Three injuries were reported.
McKeown says crews took advantage of ocean winds and higher humidities that slowed the spread of the fire.
