Firefighters continue to gain ground on Woolsey fire, with containment up to 69 percent
Firefighters continued to make progress in containing the destructive and deadly Woolsey fire, which has scorched 98,362 acres and was 69 percent contained as of Friday morning, according to the latest Cal Fire numbers.
Authorities are hopeful that cooler temperatures, a decrease in winds and a forecasted slight increase in humidity will continue to aid firefighters in battling the wildfire.
#WoolseyFire [update] south of Simi Valley (Ventura & Los Angeles Counties) is now 98,362 acres and 69% contained. Unified Command: CAL FIRE, @VCFD , @VENTURASHERIFF , @LACOFD , @LAFD , @Los Angeles @LASDHQ , and @LAPDHQ https://t.co/UixyauYWCs pic.twitter.com/oRCF4RAJ99
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) November 16, 2018
Two deaths have been attributed to the fire and Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives are investigating a third death; it appears an elderly man was caught by the fire in his house.
Three firefighters have suffered injuries fighting the flames including one, Terry Geisleman, 46, from Washington state who was run over by a pickup truck as he slept Wednesday night. He was taken to Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks and was expected to recover.
More residents were allowed to return to their neighborhoods on Thursday. Authorities lifted mandatory evacuation orders for Lake Sherwood and Hidden Valley in Ventura County. Some Malibu residents forced to flee the flames were allowed back home as well, but there were still sections of the city that remained off-limits.
The cause of the fire was still under investigation.