Firefighters Still Battling Blazes in California
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In southern California now, firefighters gaining ground against two large brush fires. Want to get to Fallbrook, north of San Diego, and James Hattori keeping a track of everything out there. James, how goes it today?</s>JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill. It's been a couple of hellish days for residents here along this canyon in Fallbrook. In fact, the battle still goes on with firefighters. You can see some tape that we took just a few moments ago of aerial tankers making runs along the canyon, dropping water on hot spots to make sure that they're completely out. There are also ground crews and bulldozers out to make sure that there are no flare-ups of any serious consequence. And, of course, a lot of that depends on what the wind is doing. Right now, the winds are pretty calm. But that was a very different case Sunday, when the fire came over the ridge through north of here. It came across these hillsides, these blackened hillsides, with amazing speed on Sunday. In all, the blaze singed more than 5,200 acres, destroying several dozens structures, more than 20 vehicles. The flames were pushed by fierce winds, raging up to 60 miles per hour across tinder dry terrain. Now that's all changed, as I mentioned, thanks to favorable wind conditions, a shift in direction. The fire is now 60 percent contained and officials expect full containment some time tonight. Crews are still hitting hot spots, as I say, with ground crews, aerial tankers. For the residents affected, they are being allowed back into their homes, the survey -- to survey damage in the area. It's going to be a busy time for them as well as for insurance adjusters, no doubt. Even as fire crews start what right now, Bill, appears to be more of a mop-up situation than not. But again, crews are still out on the fire lines just making sure those hot spots are taken care of. And they will be here for some time to come -- Bill.</s>HEMMER: All right. James, thanks. James Hattori keeping track there in southern California.