US: Firefighters head for victory against California fire
11 May 2009 3:39 AM
Firefighters are headed for victory in their battle against a California bushfire .. as a cool weather front allowed crews to tighten their grip on the blaze.
After days of high temperatures and powerful winds .. moist air has shrouded the coastal town of Santa Barbara for a second day .. leaving fire chiefs confident of reaching full containment by May 13.
The blaze has destroyed or damaged some 80 homes and scorched three-thousand-500 hectares.
More than half of the 30-thousand-500 residents who'd been forced to flee have been allowed to return to their homes as most mandatory evacuation orders were lifted.
Other evacuees are expected to return home within 48 hours.
AAP RTV jnb/psm/
