Southern California Wildfires Still Burning

Two wildfires are burning out of control in Southern California. A blaze that began yesterday in the Los Padres National Forest stands at 700 acres. It was earlier put at 12-hundred acres, but new measurements revised that figure. Two campgrounds have been evacuated and the flames continue to threaten a nearby ranch. The fire also has closed a stretch of Highway 33. About 550 firefighters, aided by air tankers and water-dropping helicopters, are attacking the blaze 12 miles northeast of Ojai.

Meanwhile, a fire burning for three days in the San Bernardino National Forest is 60 percent contained. It damaged an historic hotel near Arrowhead Springs and has consumed 26-hundred-50 acres. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries. Yesterday, a California Department of Forestry chief apologized to local residents for losing control of a training blaze that may have sparked the fire.