Fire crews gain greater control over destructive Southern California wildfire

Favorable weather conditions helped fire crews gain more control over a Southern California wildfire in the U.S. that has destroyed 134 structures and damaged dozens more, authorities reported on Sunday.

Crews increased containment of the Mountain Fire to 26 percent in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles, up from 21 percent on Saturday night. The fire's size remains approximately 83 square kilometers.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, and inspection teams continue to assess damage.

Evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings on Saturday for residents in several areas of Ventura County, as gusty winds subsided and firefighters were aided by mild temperatures and low humidity.

"The fire continues to creep and smolder in steep, rugged terrain. Threats remain to critical infrastructure, highways and communities," according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, better known as Cal Fire.

The fire broke out Wednesday morning and quickly expanded in size with the arrival of dry, warm and gusty northeast Santa Ana winds, forcing thousands of residents to flee and threatening 3,500 structures in suburban neighborhoods, ranches and agricultural areas around the community of Camarillo.

Agriculture officials assessing the toll on farmland planted with avocado, citrus and berries estimated the damage at $2.4 million, the Ventura County Star reported.

Another round of northeast winds was expected on Tuesday, but humidity was forecast to rise, and gusts were not expected to surge as high as those that fanned the fire, National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Walbrun said.

The region northwest of Los Angeles has seen some of California's most destructive fires over the years. The Mountain Fire swiftly grew from about 1.2 square kilometers to more than 41 square kilometers in just over five hours on Wednesday, with gusts topping 98 kilometers per hour.

Red flag warnings indicating conditions for high fire danger expired in most of the region on Thursday. Governor Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency in Ventura County.