Southern California firefighters tame big blazes, but new ones erupt

By: Associated Press | Thursday, July 22, 2004 9:07 PM PDT ∞

ACTON -- The hot, dry weather that has gripped Southern California for more than a week turned friendlier to firefighters Thursday, helping them rein in a blaze that had threatened nearly 200 homes.

The 11,405-acre Crown Fire had destroyed two homes and a historic wood bridge 50 miles north of Los Angeles before the wind changed direction and blew the blaze back on itself and toward open desert.

But as firefighters were making progress in north Los Angles County, a new fire erupted to the east in Riverside County.

The Citrus Fire east of Hemet burned out of control in hills near the community of Fairview, said Jane Scribner of the Riverside County Fire Department.

It quickly grew to 300 acres and forced road closures as it threatened several homes. One home was evacuated in Batista Canyon.

One of the 350 firefighters battling the blaze suffered moderate burn injuries and was treated at a hospital.

Also Thursday afternoon, a 40-acre blaze flared up a hill in Poway in northern San Diego County, but firefighters controlled it within hours.

Meanwhile, the Martin Fire that erupted late Wednesday near Temecula had burned across 135 acres by Thursday. It was 60 percent contained with full containment expected by Friday morning.

The Acton Fire, which began Tuesday on the edge of the Mojave Desert, was 50 percent contained Thursday and no longer a threat to homes, fire officials said.

Two other large fires that raged earlier in the week were fully contained. The Foothill Fire blackened 6,060 acres near the Los Angeles suburb of Santa Clarita, and the Pine Fire scorched 17,418 acres and destroyed three homes near Lake Hughes.

There was no estimated time of containment for the Acton Fire, which was being fought by 2,582 firefighters. Seven suffered minor injuries.

Angeles National Forest spokesman Stanton Florea said the blaze was human-caused, but investigators have not determined whether it was intentional or accidental.

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