Easing winds give crews a chance to fight back against Calif. wildfires

10/24/2007

(Updated at 8:50 p.m.) SAN DIEGO A merciful easing of the winds fueling Southern California s sprawling wildfires finally gave fire crews a chance to fight back against some blazes Wednesday. The improving weather allowed for a greater aerial assault on the flames and helped firefighters beat back the most destructive blazes. Despite the progress, none of the six major blazes in San Diego County was more than 15 percent contained, and those fires threatened more than 8,500 houses.

(Posted at 7:43 a.m.) Several people were left homeless when a fire apparently of electric origin damaged a South Toledo apartment complex early Wednesday, authorities said. No injuries were reported. The fire at Oak Hill Apartments in the 2400 block of South Holland-Sylvania Road was initially reported at 12:58 a.m.