(AP) ANAHEIM HILLS, Calif. The winds sweeping Orange County laid down overnight, allowing firefighters to contain most of a wildfire that scorched more than 2,000 acres in Anaheim Hills, damaging two homes and destroying two outbuildings.
The fire, which fire commanders blamed on arson, was 80 percent contained by early Monday morning, and firefighting aircraft were back on the job.
"We're expecting full containment within the next 24 hours, predicted for 6 o'clock tomorrow morning," Capt. Stephen Miller of the Orange County Fire Authority said. "There is Santa Ana winds predicted for later today. However, we're hoping that doesn't materialize. We did have winds predicted for last night, and that wasn't a factor either."
The so-called Windy Ridge fire started about 8 a.m. Sunday along the Eastern (241) Toll Road when a stolen vehicle caught fire in some brush. Fanned by Santa Ana winds at 25 to 35 mph, the fire quickly spread over the dry hills amid record heat. Nearby Fullerton hit 97 degrees Sunday afternoon.
The stolen vehicle "was intentionally set on fire," Miller said at a briefing Monday morning. "This is an arson fire."
More record or near-record heat was expected Monday. The relative humidity was expected to dip below 10 percent at times.
The area will remain under a National Weather Service Red Flag Warning until 7 p.m., meaning there is an increased risk of wildfires because of hot and dry conditions, with highs Monday expected to be around 90 degrees.
"We're still expecting some pretty extreme conditions today," Miller said.
Dozens of fire departments came together Sunday, staging at Irvine Regional Park and positioning scores of fire engines and water trucks in neighborhoods threatened by the flames.
Most of the 1,200 residents evacuated from 244 homes Sunday were allowed back into their homes about 10 p.m. Sunday night, except for some Anaheim Hills residents along Serrano Avenue near Hidden Canyon Road. The rest were expected to be allowed back to their homes later Monday, Miller said.
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries Sunday, but no civilians were injured, according to engineer Matt Cisowski of the Orange County Fire Authority.
One firefighter was cut in the face with an ax, Miller said.
"I know it sounds horrific, but my understanding is that it was a minor facial laceration," Miller said.
At least 800 firefighters are assigned to the blaze. Four or five helicopters and at least two-fixed wing aircraft are dropping water and retardant on fires that hand crews cannot get to.
Firefighters said much of the chaparral had not burned in 20 years or more. So far, Southern California is on track to have its driest winter ever, with less than 2.5 inches of rain since July 1 in most spots.
The American Red Cross set up a shelter at El Modena High School for people, livestock and horses, but few people were there last night. A second shelter was opened Sunday afternoon at the Anaheim Hills Community Center
and Police Station.
The County of Orange Emergency Operation Center opened a hotline for public inquiries regarding the fire at (714) 628-7085.
