California wildfires: Firefighters gain ground after communities torn apart in devastation

Firefighters in California are beginning to gain ground on a devastating wildfire that decimated more than 130 structures as winds subside. The Mountain Fire in Ventura County held at 32 square miles (about 83 square kilometers) and was 17 percent contained on Saturday, Fire Operations Section Chief Clint Swensen said. It broke out on Wednesday and escalated due to dry, warm and gusty northeast winds .

Thousands of local residents fled as homes were reduced to ashes with 3,500 structures in neighborhoods, ranches and agricultural areas threatened around Camarillo. US hitman in Iran murder-for-hire plot to kill Trump and journalist pictured Stephen Hawking's end-of-world prediction supported by NASA Putin's 'torturer' general dies in Ukraine in huge blow to Kremlin Putin plunged into crisis as mass poisoning rocks vital Russian military base Red flag warnings indicating conditions for high fire danger expired in most of the region Thursday. Smoky air hung over the area Saturday because of fairly light winds ranging between five and 10 mph (eight and 16 kph), the very conditions that were aiding firefighters, said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.



“It’s very favorable for the weekend,” Kittell told AP. “Good for firefighting efforts but not great for air quality.” Some forecasts showed winds returning to the area Tuesday but not to the extent seen last week, Kittell said.

The region northwest of Los Angeles has seen some of California ’s most destructive fires over the years. DON'T MISS: Bronze Age treasures made from metal from outer space lead to huge discovery [INSIGHT] NASA issues update after doctor's concern for health of 'gaunt' astronaut [REPORT] Dozens of flights, ships disrupted after North Korea jams GPS signals [SPOTLIGHT] The Mountain Fire swiftly grew from less than half a square mile (about 1.2 square kilometers) to more than 16 square miles (41 square kilometers) in little more than five hours on Wednesday, with gusts topping 61 mph (98 kph).

Gov. Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency in Ventura County..