NU Online News Service, Aug. 2, 3:48 p.m. EDT

A rash of wildfires that flared up in Southern California over the weekend appears to be under control after claiming close to 90 structures in the region.

The largest, the Crown fire, which began July 29, was 89 percent contained as of 6 a.m. local time today. The fire destroyed 9 structures and consumed close to 14,000 acres. Mechanics working on a car were blamed for starting that blaze, which at one time forced close to 2,000 people from their homes.

According to the County of Los Angeles Fire Department website, the fire was located southwest of Palmdale, north of the Sierra Highway. All roads throughout the region of the blaze have been reopened to normal traffic, and fire crews are constructing containment lines and working hotspots. Evacuation centers throughout the area have now closed.

Full containment is expected by this evening, a spokesman for the Insurance Information Network of California said.

The West fire that began on July 27 in Kern County is 100 percent contained and claimed more than 1,600 acres. In terms of personal property damage, this blaze was probably the worst, taking a total of 64 structures, 41 of which were categorized as outbuildings.

At its height on Friday, more than 1,000 personnel were involved in fighting the fire.

In a Fire Season Outlook put out by the National Interagency Fire Center in May, officials said there could be a spike in this year's fire season as some parts of the country, primarily in the northern half of the west, have not had as much rainfall as in the past. The agency blamed the drier weather on an El Ni?o winter weather pattern.

Despite the number of acres so far consumed by a number of fires in Southern and Northern California, there is no indication that insured losses have reached catastrophe proportions.

Catastrophe is defined by the Insurance Services Office as an event that causes $25 million or more in insured property losses and affects a significant number of property and casualty policyholders and insurers.

Special Reports /

Fires In Southern Calif. Contained

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