Cooler weather in Southern California helps firefighters in battle against 3 massive wildfires

LOS ANGELES -- Thousands of firefighters aided by cooler weather made progress Saturday against three Southern California wildfires.

Authorities have started scaling back evacuations at the largest blaze. The Bridge Fire in the Angeles National Forest has burned 81 square miles, torched at least 33 homes and six cabins and forced the evacuation of 10,000 people. Two firefighters have been injured in the blaze, state fire officials said.

Operations section chief Don Freguila said Saturday that containment was estimated at 3% and improving, with nearly 2,500 firefighters working the lines. He said Saturday's focus would be on the fire's west flank and northern edge near Wrightwood, where airtankers dropped retardant on the flames in steep, rugged areas inaccessible to ground crews.

"A lot of good work. We're really beating this up and starting to make some good progress," Freguila said. He said a new spot fire broke out Friday night near the Mount Baldy ski area along the blaze's southern edge, burning only about an acre before crews "buttoned it up."

According to the Golden State Water Company, some areas in the Wrightwood water system lost pressure. That may have caused harmful contaminants to get in the water.

The Southern California fires have threatened tens of thousands of homes and other structures since they escalated during a triple-digit heat wave.

Line Fire

Authorities say a delivery driver purposely started the Line Fire in Highland on Sept. 5. It has charred 59 square miles in the San Bernardino mountains.

It was 25% contained as of Saturday. Cool weather over the next several days should help, fire officials said.

It is burning through dense vegetation that grew after two back-to-back wet winters when snowstorms broke tree branches, leaving behind a lot of "dead and down fuel," Cal Fire Operations Section Chief Jed Gaines said.

Three firefighters have been injured in the fire, according to Cal Fire.

The Big Bear Zoo said it moved all its animals to a zoo in the city of Palm Desert to protect them from the wildfires and escalating temperatures.

Arson-related charges have been filed against Justin Wayne Halstenberg, who is accused of starting the Line Fire. He is due to be arraigned on Monday according to the San Bernardino County district attorney's office.

The full extent of the damage caused by the blaze remains unclear, but San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said at least one home was destroyed.

Airport Fire

The Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties fire has been difficult to tame because of the steep terrain and dry conditions - and because some areas hadn't burned in decades. Reportedly sparked by workers using heavy equipment, it has burned more than 37 square miles. It was 9% contained as of Saturday.

Thousands of threadfin shad have been found dead in the past couple of days.

"Although direct lines have been challenging to build due to rugged terrain, favorable weather conditions have supported their efforts," the Saturday situation report from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

Eleven firefighters and two residents have been injured in the blaze, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. It destroyed at least 27 cabins in the Holy Jim Canyon area, authorities said.

Sonner reported from Reno, Nevada. Rodriguez reported from San Francisco. Associated Press reporters Sophie Austin in Sacramento, California, and Amy Taxin in Santa Ana, California, contributed.