Weakening winds relief wild fires in South California

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Weakening winds Friday morning helped firefighters to contain wild fires ranged around Los Angeles since from early this week.

According to Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD), the massive Thomas Fire ignited Monday night around Santa Paula, 110 kilometers northwest of Los Angeles downtown, was 10 percent contained after scorched 132,000 acres (534 sauqre kilometers) till Friday morning.

Even though the size of lands consumed by the blaze increased, the VCFD explained on its official tweeter page, it dose not mean the situation get worse. The fire is still threatening 15,000 structures and already destroyed 400 and damaged 81.

"Opportunities to validate acreage has allowed us to increase accuracy and thus the number of acres increased." the tweeter reads, adding that the fire continues to grow to the north and west towards mountain areas of Santa Barbara County.

A firefighter, who declined to reveal his name, told Xinhua Friday morning at foothill of a steep ridge along 150 freeway dividing Ventura County and Santa Barbara County that the winds are weakening, his work is to monitor fire spots on the top of the hill.

"Tonight we are lucky, the Santa Ana is not so strong as we estimated before, the hill is very steep. no construction there, so we arrived here this evening and keep watching ..., the firefighter said.

As to the other two wildfires in Los Angeles County, Kathryn Barger, Supervisor of the county tweeted Friday morning, "The Creeakfire has burned 15,323 acres and is no 40 percent contained. RyanFire has burned 6,049 acres and is 35 percent contained."

National Weather Service in Los Angeles issued wind advisory Friday morning, warning Santa Ana winds to Southwest California would go through at least early next week, so "extreme fire danger is expected through at least Sunday evening."

"Winds have weakened this morning but are still gusty, especially in the mountains. Slightly stronger winds are expected over the weekend and advisories may again be needed," the advisory said, adding that winds 20 to 30 mph (34 to 51 kph) with gusts to 50 mph (85 kph) will continue in northwest area.

The Santa Ana winds are strong, extremely dry down-slope winds that originate inland and affect coastal Southern California in fall and winter. It was known as "devil winds" for fanning regional wildfires. Enditem