EXHAUSTED firefighters raced to contain hundreds of wildfires raging across California as forecasters warned today that a looming heatwave is set to deliver drier, hotter conditions.
More than 330 wildfires blazed across the state, as firefighters focused their efforts near the tourist haven of Big Sur and the town of Goleta, near Santa Barbara, 165km north of Los Angeles.
The blazes have burned 222,235ha across California since igniting on June 20, when lightning from dry thunderstorms triggered a series of forest infernos.
Firefighters reported some progress in their fight against the two largest wildfires along the state`s central and southern coastline, with the southern blaze 28 per cent contained and the Big Sur fire five per cent contained late yesterday.
Light winds overnight boosted firefighters` efforts, but forecasts of higher temperatures tomorrow combined with lower humidity are set to deliver a fresh setback to the fight to contain the flames.
Temperatures in southern California, likely to hit up to 29C today, are set to rise to 37C through the early part of the week, forecasts said.
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