California firefighters gain ground on wildfires

California firefighters arrive to assist local fire personnel in a battle against a wild fire Tuesday, May 13, 2014, in San Diego. Wildfires destroyed a home and forced the evacuation of several others Tuesday in California as a high-pressure system brought unseasonable heat and gusty winds to a parched state that should be in the middle of its rainy season. (AP Photo)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

A lone tree stands in the path of approaching flames as wild fire burns through a canyon Tuesday in San Diego.

SAN DIEGO  — Firefighters have gained ground on a pair of California wildfires thanks to calm winds overnight but they are concerned about hot and gusty conditions forecast for the afternoon.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Lee Swanson said today a fire burning on the outskirts of San Diego is 25 percent contained and has scorched 1,550 acres.

Firefighters hope to have the blaze near upscale housing developments 50 percent contained by day’s end but they face hot, dry and gusty conditions.

Calmer winds also aided firefighters in Santa Barbara County where a 700-acre wildfire is 5 percent contained.

Evacuation orders for thousands of residents near the San Diego fire were lifted Tuesday night. Evacuation orders have also been lifted for all but a handful of homes and businesses in Santa Barbara County.