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Firefighters look to gain on Cali wildfire

Strong wind gusts and extremely low humidity will continue to pose a challenge to firefighting efforts in California.

Firefighters battle to contain Californian wildfires
Firefighters are trying to stop Californian wildfires from heading towards cities on the coast. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Firefighters hope to gain further control of a wildfire, the fifth-largest in California's history, as relentless wind gusts and bone-dry weather conditions are expected to persist.

The blaze, known as the Thomas Fire, which has burned 93,766 hectares in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties about 160km northwest of downtown Los Angeles, grew but at a slower pace, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said.

But strong wind gusts of up to 65km/h and extremely low humidity will continue to pose a challenge to firefighting efforts, the National Weather Service said.

About 7000 firefighters were battling the blaze that has destroyed about 800 structures including more than 680 homes, Cal Fire said.

Dry vegetation that has not burned in 50 years is acting as fuel for the fire in the mountains southeast of Santa Barbara and northwest of Ventura.

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Some of the other fires burning over the past week in San Diego and Los Angeles counties have been largely controlled by the thousands of firefighters on the ground.

The Creek and Rye fires in Los Angeles County were both at least 90 per cent contained, officials said, while the Skirball Fire in the posh Bel Air neighbourhood of Los Angeles was 85 per cent contained.

North of San Diego, the 1660 hectare Lilac Fire was also 90 per cent contained, after destroying 151 structures.


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