California: Evacuees allowed to return home

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-10-2009 10:35

Over in California in the US, thousands of evacuees from Santa Barbara have been told they can return home. Saturday's announcement came as firefighters continued making progress against a wildfire that has raged for five days.

Over in California in the US, thousands of evacuees from  Santa Barbara have been told they can return home.

The fire has so far destroyed 80 homes and blackened nearly 3-thousand, five hundred hectares in the foothills above the picturesque seaside city. Officials say about 30 percent of the fire has been contained. That's up from only 10 percent on Friday. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visited evacuees temporarily staying at the University of California. He declared a state of emergency in Santa Barbara County on Wednesday, enabling the freeing up of federal emergency funds.

The governor called the blaze "a great challenge", and promised money for fighting the fire despite a state budget crisis. No civilian casualties have been reported. But the blaze has injured 13 firefighters.

Editor:Qin Yongjing