Firefighters battling California's deadly wildfires - among the most destructive in state history - were more optimistic today as hot winds whipping the flames gave way to cooler conditions and fresh reinforcements rushed in from neighboring states.
From Ventura County north of Los Angeles to the Mexican border, where 10 active fires blackened more than 520,000 acres (210,400 hectares), firefighters used a respite from hot, dry conditions to try to tamp down the blazes and contain them in bulldozed fire lines.
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A US Air Force C-130 fire fighting plane flies over theSimi Valley fire
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Forecasts showed decreasing temperatures accompanied by higher humidity and lighters winds in the coming 24 hours - conditions that firefighters said were their most effective tool against the blazes.
The fires have killed 18 people, including two in Mexico, and destroyed more than 1,900 homes, state officials said.
At dawn today, firefighters launched an aerial offensive on the 95,000-acre (38,450 hectares) Simi Valley blaze, which damaged or destroyed 24 homes in Ventura County and threatened million-dollar estates in neighboring Los Angeles County.
"We have a massive air strike under way now," Los Angeles County fire spokesman Mr Roland Sprewell said. "We feel cautiously optimistic that we will get this thing (Simi Valley blaze) knocked out today. We're taking full advantage of the cool temperatures and lack of winds."
Mr Sprewell said firefighters were confident they could keep the fire's eastern edge from spilling into Los Angeles County, which so far has suffered little fire damage. Aided by falling temperatures and rising humidity today, firefighters in hard-hit San Diego County chased three blazes surrounding the city away from homes and worked to extinguish "hot spots" though the fire is still not contained.
"The weather is at least making a small turn in the right direction," San Diego fire spokeswoman Ms Jan Shuttleworth said. "If that trend continues it will really be a big help."
Crews and equipment from Nevada and Arizona also began arriving today, filling in the thinly stretched 45-mile (72 km) long fire line and relieving local crews who have worked round-the-clock shifts to contain the massive Cedar blaze, a fire started by a lost hunter trying to signal his partner.