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U.S. NEWS Friday 22 december 2017

All significant California wildfire evacuation orders lifted

By AMANDA LEE MYERS (160 kilometers) northwest
Associated Press of Los Angeles, despite an
LOS ANGELES (AP) — All evacuation order in place
remaining significant since Saturday.
evacuation orders for ar- “Our cars are packed, we
eas around the smolder- have all our clothes and
ing remnants of Southern jewelry, so we’re ready to
California’s huge wildfire leave at a moment’s no-
were canceled Thursday tice should we have to,”
after a new round of winds Katy Zappala, 74, said
caused little fire activity. Wednesday.
The lifting of evacuation The Zappalas and their
orders and warnings in cat, Madeline, decided
Santa Barbara County left against leaving their home
only remote and little de- after the evacuation order
veloped Rose Valley in the was issued because they
wilderness of neighboring knew authorities would not
Ventura County under an allow them back in.
order barring residents and “You’re always nervous
visitors. when the winds come up,”
Warnings of high fire risk Zappala said.
were canceled for Santa Days and days of fierce,
Barbara County, although often erratic gusts com-
they remained in effect In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, CAL FIRE Inmate Firefighting bined with extremely dry
elsewhere in Southern Cali- Hand Crew members hike through the charred landscape on their way to work east of Gibraltar weather pushed the blaze
Road above Montecito, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Officials estimate that the fire will grow to
fornia due to Santa Ana become the biggest in California history before full containment, expected by Jan. 7. with incredible speed as it
winds, low humidity levels (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County FD via AP) moved through Ventura
and very dry vegetation. County’s agricultural San-
The only visible flame was was caused by the pas- ment lines and set con- centers, while others wait- ta Clara Valley, into the
on the northern side of the sage of a cold front into the trolled fires to clear dry ed at home and hoped for city of Ventura and then
fire where controlled burns area overnight. brush. the best. moved northwestward,
set by firefighters to clear But firefighters had used Some residents stayed Katy and Bob Zappala had threatening the coastal
combustible material were three days of calm condi- away from their homes stayed in their home in San- communities of Santa Bar-
being conducted in wilder- tions to bulldoze contain- at hotels and evacuation ta Barbara, about 100 miles bara County.q
ness, said fire information
officer Brandon Vaccaro. Woman whose 84 Great Danes were seized avoids jail
About 18,000 homes and
other buildings were still By CHRISTOPHER JENSEN health problems. has been broken. “It has that she took good care of
listed as threatened. Even Associated Press Fay said she loved the dogs all turned into a salacious, the dogs and that the town
when there’s no sign of OSSIPEE, N.H. (AP) — A and pleaded not guilty. tabloid story, which is so brought the charges to
flame or smoke, fires can woman who had dozens of Judge Charles Greenhalgh inappropriate,” she said. force her to shut down her
rekindle. filthy and sick Great Danes convicted her and refused “There are so many untruths kennel because neighbors
The Thomas fire, which be- living in her New Hampshire her request to have the out there. I was vilified.” had complained about the
gan Dec. 4, is responsible mansion will serve no jail dogs returned to her so she An appeal would mean a barking. A veterinarian tes-
for two deaths, has de- time for animal cruelty but could find homes for them. new trial in superior court. It tified that Fay’s care of the
stroyed at least 750 homes, must pay nearly $800,000 He said the Humane Soci- also would mean the dogs dogs “was more than ad-
and has burned about 425 for the care they received ety would handle that. He would remain with the Hu- equate.” Samantha Mof-
square miles (1,100 square after being seized, a judge said she could pick a dog mane Society until that fitt reviewed records and
kilometers). said Thursday. to keep but can never trial is over. The society has saw many of the dogs, but
The blaze was 60 percent Authorities took 84 dogs again own more than one said its expenses so far total after they were taken from
contained and is the sec- from Christina Fay’s Wolfe- dog. $774,000, and the town of Fay. After hearing testimo-
ond-largest in California’s boro home in June, say- Fay, who plans to appeal, Wolfeboro and a local shel- ny from people who had
history. ing the animals were living said the proceeding was ter are to be reimbursed worked for Fay and seeing
The latest round of winds in filth and suffering from unfair and that her heart about $17,500. Fay testified video of the conditions.q