California fires on retreat as experts warn of air hazard

Firefighters tightened their grip on California’s wildfires as officials expressed concern at the health hazards posed by vast plumes of smoke shrouding the region.

Cooler temperatures and calmer winds have allowed firefighters to staunch or contain most of the 23 fires that have erupted since last Sunday, leaving seven dead, destroying 1,800 homes and displacing 640,000 people.

Firefighting personnel have predicted that three major blazes could be brought under control within 10 days, offering the prospect of a return to normalcy after one of the worst fire disasters in Californian history. AFP