Calmer Winds, Cooler Temps Help Firefighters Battle SoCal Wildfire

CAMARILLO (CBS/AP) -- Calmer winds and a big cool-down in weather are helping firefighters gain control of a huge wildfire burning in Southern California coastal mountains.

Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant says containment of the blaze 50 miles west of Los Angeles increased to 56 percent Saturday afternoon.

The fire has burned more than 43 square miles since breaking out near Camarillo Thursday morning. High winds and hot, dry air quickly stoked the flames, but the normal flow of damp air off the Pacific returned late Friday and significantly reduced fire activity.

Flames have threatened thousands of homes since then but only 15 have been damaged.

Nearly 2,000 firefighters are battling the fire, including many from the Bay Area. They are being assisted by water-dropping helicopters and planes.

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