Firefighters Get an Upper Hand on Wildfires

Although conditions have swung in the favor of firefighters in Southern California, officials report that it will be a few more days before they will likely have control of several blazes that have destroyed or damaged more than 800 homes in the greater Los Angeles area.

Blazes have roared from Santa Barbara to Anaheim since Thursday, as high temperatures, high winds, low humidity and dry conditions have made for a deadly mix. To date, some 35,000 acres of land have been scorched.

The worst losses have been in the Sylmar area where hundreds of homes were lost in the Oakridge Mobile Home Park.

The largest of three fires, the Freeway Complex fire, had scorched approximately 24,000 acres in Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside counties. Most of the damage was in Orange County in the suburbs of Anaheim and Yorba Linda, with more than 100 homes reportedly destroyed.

Finally, the Tea fire in the Santa Barbara area destroyed more than 100 homes. Officials reported it was 80 percent contained as of Monday morning.

Santa Anas Up Fire Danger Around Southern Cal

While they are not predicted to be as intense as last week, strong winds blowing from the Mexican Border to the Orange and Riverside county lines have firefighters keeping a close eye on fire conditions.

Red-flag warnings have been issued as the strong winds and high temperatures take over the weather scene today.

Temperatures in the inland parts of San Diego are expected to reach the mid-to-upper 90s today, coupled with humidity levels dropping throughout the day.

Fire officials warn residents to take precautions as the slightest sparks can set off a fire with the very dry brush that is around much of the state. There is no rain predicted in the near future to ease the dry conditions.

9 Missing Following Redding Chopper Crash

Authorities are holding out little hope that nine people missing from a helicopter crash Tuesday evening some 35 miles northwest of Redding are alive. Four people were hospitalized following the crash of the Sikorsky S-61 helicopter.

The chopper was carrying 11 contract firefighters and two crew members into a remote area to battle local wildfires.

The crash happened in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in northern California as the chopper was reportedly trying to land.