California firefighters battling blazes before heatwave

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — California firefighters were racing to make inroads against wildfires raging across the state on Monday before the arrival of a forecast record heatwave later this week, officials said.

More than 19,000 firefighters are battling some 330 active fires across California. Nearly 1,800 blazes have erupted since June 20, scorching around 597,000 acres (241,600 hectares) according to latest figures.

The frontlines of the battle are two separate out-of-control wildfires threatening thousands of homes which are burning in the Los Padres National Forest near the coastal town of Santa Barbara and the tourist haven of Big Sur.

Cooler temperatures and light winds allowed firefighters tackling the flames to make significant inroads, a fire spokesman...