California: Wheatland Fire near Lake View Terrace

Above: the approximate location of the Wheatland Fire near Lake View Terrace in southern California.

A brush fire that has blackened about 183 acres put up an impressive amount of smoke today. The fire broke out in mid-afternoon on Monday and by evening had slowed considerably. Fire officials called it 35 percent contained at 6 p.m.

The Wheatland Fire is north of the 210 freeway in the Lake View Terrace area above Wheatland Avenue in southern California. It burned north away from homes until its progress was impeded by a deepening marine layer and by ridgelines, making it feasible for aircraft to drop water and retardant in those areas, assisting firefighters on the ground and slowing the fire.