All evacuation lifted for Southern California wildfire

Authorities lifted all evacuation orders as firefighters me progress Sunday on a large blaze that sent thousands fleeing homes and farms rthwest of Los Angeles. Crews working in steep terrain were tamping down hotspots and keeping an eye on lingering gusts in mountain areas that could carry embers, said Ventura County Fire Capt. Steve Kaufmann. "I'd say we're cautiously optimistic," Kaufmann said, citing calmer winds overall and rising humidity levels.

dam caused to due California fires

Firefighters have contained 70% of blaze, which has burned nearly 15 square miles (39 sq. kilometers) of dry brush and timber. Three buildings were destroyed. More than 11,000 people evacuated after flames spre Oct. 31 during dry winds that fanned fires across state this fall. In his first recent comments on California fires, President Donald Trump threatened to cut U.S. aid funding to state.

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"Terrible job of forest manment”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has done a "terrible job of forest manment," Trump tweeted. When fires r, goverr comes to federal government for help. " more," president tweeted. Newsom replied with a tweet of his own: "You don't believe in climate change. You are excused from this conversation." California has increased fire prevention investments and fuel manment projects in recent years while federal funding has shrunk, goverr's office said in a statement. "We're successfully waging war against thousands of fires started across state in last few weeks due to extreme wear created by climate change while Trump is conducting a full-on assault against antidotes," Newsom said.

state controls just 3 percent of forest land in California, while federal government owns 57 percent, according to numbers provided by Newsom's office. About 40 percent of state's forest is privately owned. Neir of two major fires currently burning is on forest land.

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Trump threatened to cut funds

Last year Trump me a similar threat as wildfires devastated Malibu and Parise, California accusing state of "gross mismanment" of forests. At time Newsom defended California's wildfire prevention efforts while criticizing federal government for t doing eugh to help protect state.

In rrn California, more people returned to areas evacuated from a huge fire that burned for days in Soma County wine country. 121-square-mile (313-square-kilometer) fire was 76% contained on Sunday, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. tally of destroyed homes reached 175 and re were 35 more damd, authorities said. Many or structures also burned.

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Cause of fire under investigation

causes of both fires were under investigation but re was a possibility that electrical lines might have been involved as was case at or recent fires. Sourn California Edison said Friday that it re-energized a 16,000-volt power line 13 minutes before fire erupted in same area of Ventura County. Edison and or utilities around state shut off power to hundreds of thousands of people last week out of concerns that high winds could cause power lines to spark and start fires.

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