California fire tally: 842 homes destroyed

DIAMOND BAR, Calif., Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Fire officials report positive containment numbers of the three major fires that have raged across Southern California since late last week.

Firefighters report that the 1,940-acre Tea fire was 95 percent contained, the Sayre fire was 64 percent contained and the Freeway Complex fire was 40 percent contained, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

"The firefight is over," Marlene Heisey, a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection public information officer, told crews at the Orange County command center.

Cooler temperatures and calm winds helped firefighters battle blazes Monday.

"We have a good handle on things," Orange County Fire Authority's Kris Concepcion said to the Times. "We are now just making sure that everything in that fire area is cold."

During the last several days, 842 homes were destroyed and more than 100 others were damaged. The cause of the fires remains unknown.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sought federal emergency declarations for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Santa Barbara counties to help offset the costs of the fires.

Evacuations orders were lifted in many placed but remained in place in others, USA Today reported Tuesday.

Jenny Shi said she and her 5-year-old twin girls were forced from their Diamond Bar, Calif., home Sunday when a fire raced through a nearby canyon.

"The cloud was red," she said. "I've never seen anything like it. It covered the sun. It was dark."