Post by Tulameen on Jul 16, 2006 19:34:29 GMT -5
YUCCA VALLEY, California (CNN) -- Heavy rains are forecast for California's fire-ravaged Yucca Valley on Sunday, a welcome relief for firefighters but the monsoon system could cause massive flooding in the desert area, the National Weather Service and a local police official told CNN Radio.
"People who have just been allowed to return to their homes ... because of the fires may have to quickly be evacuated again," said Cindy Beavers, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
National Weather Service meteorologist Steve Vanderburg in San Diego said the Yucca Valley region "is a flood problem to begin with."
"The burned terrain makes it even worse," he added.
Although firefighters reported some progress in battling two wildfires Saturday, the flames had consumed more acreage, officials said.
The Sawtooth Complex fire was estimated to be 40 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Web site. The Millard Fire remained at 5 percent containment, but its acreage had increased, authorities said.
The two fires, which merged Friday, had burned a total of more than 71,000 acres as of Saturday. Firefighters battling the flames have been dealing with steep, inaccessible terrain and a lack of steady water resources.
Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for some residents of Burns Canyon.
In another development late Saturday, a search-and-rescue team found the body of Gerry Guthrie, 57, who had been missing since Tuesday when he called his wife and told her he was being evacuated from the historic community of Pioneertown, according to the sheriff's department.
The exact cause of death has not been confirmed.
Beavers said about 20 people searching an area northwest of Guthrie's home found his body near his home.
CNN Radio's Lee Garen contributed to this report.
Find this article at:
www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/16/wildfires/index.html
"People who have just been allowed to return to their homes ... because of the fires may have to quickly be evacuated again," said Cindy Beavers, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
National Weather Service meteorologist Steve Vanderburg in San Diego said the Yucca Valley region "is a flood problem to begin with."
"The burned terrain makes it even worse," he added.
Although firefighters reported some progress in battling two wildfires Saturday, the flames had consumed more acreage, officials said.
The Sawtooth Complex fire was estimated to be 40 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Web site. The Millard Fire remained at 5 percent containment, but its acreage had increased, authorities said.
The two fires, which merged Friday, had burned a total of more than 71,000 acres as of Saturday. Firefighters battling the flames have been dealing with steep, inaccessible terrain and a lack of steady water resources.
Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for some residents of Burns Canyon.
In another development late Saturday, a search-and-rescue team found the body of Gerry Guthrie, 57, who had been missing since Tuesday when he called his wife and told her he was being evacuated from the historic community of Pioneertown, according to the sheriff's department.
The exact cause of death has not been confirmed.
Beavers said about 20 people searching an area northwest of Guthrie's home found his body near his home.
CNN Radio's Lee Garen contributed to this report.
Find this article at:
www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/16/wildfires/index.html