Firefighters Gain on Wildfire in Southern California Farm Country

Firefighters began to get the upper hand on a destructive wildfire in a Southern California farming region Saturday, taking advantage of lighter winds as authorities let some evacuated residents return home.

The Maria Fire erupted Thursday near Santa Paula, about 110 km northwest of downtown Los Angeles, and it has since charred 3,800 hectares of dry brush and chaparral, officials said.

Firefighters have scrambled to protect tens of millions of dollars’ worth of citrus and avocado crops in harm’s way, as well as oil industry infrastructure.

The blaze, which was 20% contained Saturday, is the most pressing emergency facing California firefighters, with several other blazes in the state largely contained.

Via VOA