Crews make progress against Western fires, brace for winds
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Firefighters battling home-threatening wildfires in the West are bracing for gusty winds and scorching heat on Sunday.
They made progress by containing 45 percent of a four-day-old fire in California coastal canyons after 40-mph "sundowner" winds failed to materialize.
Those evening and night gusts had driven the flames through steep, brushy canyons west of Santa Barbara on previous nights and forced closure of a major highway. However, forecasters warned of extreme fire danger Sunday evening due to hot, dry weather and winds that could gust up to 50 mph.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}No homes have burned, but about 270 homes and ranches are at risk and campgrounds are evacuated with flames only 2 miles from more densely populated coastal communities.
In New Mexico, Gov. Susana Martinez directed the New Mexico National Guard to assist in securing communities affected by a massive wildfire in the central part of the state. Guardsmen will be patrolling and protecting evacuated homes from possible looting. They also will be called on to help with potential flooding.
The fire, which erupted in the Manzano Mountains south of Albuquerque, has burned more than 27 square miles about 6 miles northwest of Tajique since Tuesday and spread a pall of smoke as far as Denver. The damage includes 24 homes and nearly as many structures near the small community of Chilili.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The blaze is 9 percent contained.
In Arizona, a fire southwest of Show Low was 30 percent contained. Firefighters beefed up containment areas on the northern and western sides of the blaze.
Evacuation orders remain in effect for the community of Forestdale.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The fire has burned nearly 19 square miles since Wednesday.
Crews in Utah also made gains against three wildfires in the southern part of the state.
A 350-acre wildfire near Cedar City was 30 percent contained, but the blaze still threatened 20 structures including homes and outbuildings.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}More than 1,200 firefighters attacked the California fire, which has engulfed more than 12 square miles of mountain and agricultural lands. Overnight, crews nailed down lines on the fire's west side, which hadn't moved for days, Santa Barbara County fire Capt. Dave Zaniboni said.
However, the eastern side of the blaze was uncontrolled and virtually inaccessible.
Crews were relying on aircraft water drops and on cutting firebreaks ahead of the flames. They hoped to set backfires to stop the spread, Zaniboni said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The battle had a deadline because "sundowner" winds gusting to 50 mph were expected to return Saturday evening and that could stir up the fire, Zaniboni said.
"We're far from having a handle on it," he said.
Weekend fire dangers already were expected to worsen as a heat wave will bring potentially record-shattering temperatures across the Southwest.