Wind change brings respite in California fires

Dying winds allowed firefighters to make inroads today on three huge wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to flee in California.

Gusts peaked at more than 70mph at the height of the fires over the weekend, but by today they weakened to about 20mph.

“It’s wonderful news,” said a spokeswoman for Orange County Fire Authority. “When it calms down, it obviously makes it easier for us to handle this massive undertaking.”

The fires, which have burned since last Thursday from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles and counties to the east, have burned more than 35,000 acres or 55 square miles.

The cause of all the fires were under investigation, although officials said the Santa Barbara-area fire was “human caused”.

The fire started in a Montecito landmark known to be a popular area for teenagers. He said it was possible someone was smoking in the brush or started a campfire there. Investigators have set up an anonymous tip line in hopes of getting the public’s help in finding out who started the fire.

Far away from the flames, the smell of smoke pervaded metropolitan Los Angeles. City centre skyscrapers were silhouettes in an opaque sky and concerns about air quality kept many people indoors. Organisers cancelled a marathon in suburban Pasadena for 8,000 runners yesterday.

Officials warned of another bad air day today, and classes were cancelled at dozens of schools near the fire zones in Orange County.

Many evacuees began the agonising process of making their way back to their destroyed homes.