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More Calif. Wildfires Contained

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Los Angeles Times

Published: October 29, 2007

SAN DIEGO - Two more fires in San Diego County were declared 100 percent contained Sunday, the latest good news for Southern California as it enters its second week dealing with an outbreak of wildfires that has destroyed more than half a million acres across seven counties.

The Rice fire near Fallbrook and the Horno fire at Camp Pendelton were fully contained, officials said. Cooler, moist air gave firefighters a break.

'We're making very good headway,' Capt. Phil Rawlings of the state fire agency CalFire said Sunday by telephone. 'We're cautiously optimistic.'
Rawlings was watching the Santiago fire in Orange County, officially at 50 percent containment, up from 40 percent Saturday. There was no estimate for when it would be fully contained.

There are currently seven fires burning, CalFire spokesman Daniel Berlant said. As of Sunday morning, 516,356 acres had been burned and 2,767 structures had been destroyed. More than 15,235 firefighters were engaged and 1,551 fire engines in use, he said.

The only active blaze in San Diego is the Poomacha fire, officials said. It threatens about 500 homes.

The blaze has burned through 49,150 acres and is 50 percent contained with full containment expected Wednesday, officials said. It has destroyed 136 homes and 19 outbuildings and injured 18 firefighters.

About 2,100 firefighters will tackle the blaze, which has cost $5.2 million to battle. It was caused by a house fire.

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