Wildfire Season Starts in Southwest

ENN 4/30/96 08:49

WILDFIRE NEWSBRIEFS

Wildfire Season Starts Early this Year

SOUTHWEST AND WESTERN UNITED STATES (ENN) - Several wildfires were burning across various portions of the Southwest and Western United States on Tuesday. Most of the fires were being fueled by high winds and high temperatures.

In Ventura County, California, about 60 miles north of Los Angeles, a fire in the Los Padres National Forest has burned about 10,000 acres. Most of the land burned consists of chaparral in deep, inaccessible canyons and grassland. More than 2,000 firefighters are battling this blaze. It was reported on Tuesday morning that this fire was only 25 percent contained. It probably will not be fully contained until 3 May 1996.

In Riverside County, near the town of Rubidoux, a fire that burned 100 acres also destroyed one home and damaged another.

Another fire, this one near the Mexican border east of San Diego, a blaze has destroyed one house and three mobile homes. Winds of up to 60 MPH were hampering firefighting efforts.

In Arizona, 12,000 acres of desert land has been burned just east of the city of Phoenix.

In New Mexico, the blaze near the Los Alamos National Laboratory has burned 14,600 acres. About 900 firefighters are battling the blaze. Forest Service officials said that they don't expect to have this fire fully contained for a week.

ENN is following what appears to be the very early start of another heavy fire season in the Western part of the United States. We will be providing updates and news briefs as the season progresses. If you have knowledge/information regarding wildfires, please send us e-mail to firenet@emergency.com or call 312-631-3774.

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