Cooler weather in Southern California helps in wildfire battle

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Thousands of firefighters aided by cooler weather made progress Saturday against three Southern California wildfires, and officials in northern Nevada were hopeful that almost all evacuees from a blaze there could soon be home.

Authorities have started scaling back evacuations at the largest blaze. The Bridge Fire east of Los Angeles has burned 81 square miles (210 square kilometers), torched at least 33 homes and six cabins and forced the evacuation of 10,000 people. Two firefighters have been injured in the blaze, state fire officials said.

Operations section chief Don Freguila said Saturday that containment was estimated at 3% and improving, with nearly 2,500 firefighters working the lines. He said Saturday's focus would be on the fire's west flank and northern edge near Wrightwood, where airtankers dropped retardant on the flames in steep, rugged areas inaccessible to ground crews.

“A lot of good work. We're really beating this up and starting to make some good progress,” Freguila said. He said a new spot fire broke out Friday night near the Mount Baldy ski area along the blaze's southern edge, burning only about an acre before crews “buttoned it up."

The Southern California have threatened tens of thousands of homes and other structures since they escalated during a triple-digit heat wave.

The blaze in Nevada near Lake Tahoe broke out last weekend, destroying 14 homes and burning through nearly 9 square miles (23 square kilometers) of timber and brush along the Sierra Nevada’s eastern slope. Some 20,000 people were forced from their homes early this week.

Fire officials said there was a 90% chance the last of the evacuees would be able to return to their homes by the end of Saturday.

Containment of the blaze was estimated at 76% Saturday, fire spokeswoman Celeste Prescott said. Some of the 700 crew members should soon be sent off to other fires, she added.

Firefighters were mostly mopping up but anticipated winds picking up in the afternoon so stood ready to attack any spots that flare up.

“We're on the verge of big success here,” Truckee Meadows Fire District Chief Charles Moore said.

Authorities say a delivery driver purposely started the Line Fire in Southern California on Sept. 5. It has charred 59 square miles (153 square kilometers) in the San Bernardino mountains, where people ski in the winter and mountain bike in the summer.

It was 25% contained as of Saturday. Cool weather over the next several days should help, fire officials said.

It is burning through dense vegetation that grew after two back-to-back wet winters when snowstorms broke tree branches, leaving behind a lot of “dead and down fuel,” Cal Fire Operations Section Chief Jed Gaines said.

Three firefighters have been injured in the fire, according to Cal Fire.

The Big Bear Zoo said it moved all its animals to a zoo in the city of Palm Desert to protect them from the wildfires and escalating temperatures.

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Arson-related charges have been filed against Justin Wayne Halstenberg, who is accused of starting the Line Fire. He is due to be arraigned on Monday according to the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office. Halstenberg's mother, Connie Halstenberg, told the Los Angeles Times that her son “did not light that fire.”

The full extent of the damage caused by the blaze remains unclear, but San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said at least one home was destroyed.

The Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties fire has been difficult to tame because of the steep terrain and dry conditions — and because some areas hadn’t burned in decades. Reportedly sparked by workers using heavy equipment, it has burned more than 37 square miles (96 square kilometers). It was 9% contained as of Saturday.

“Although direct lines have been challenging to build due to rugged terrain, favorable weather conditions have supported their efforts,” the Saturday situation report from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

Eleven firefighters and two residents have been injured in the blaze, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. It destroyed at least 27 cabins in the Holy Jim Canyon area, authorities said.

Sonner reported from Reno, Nevada. Rodriguez reported from San Francisco. Associated Press reporters Sophie Austin in Sacramento, California, and Amy Taxin in Santa Ana, California, contributed.

FILE - Smoke from the Line Fire fills the air Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Running Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer, File)

The skyline of downtown is obscured by smoke carried into the Rocky Mountain region from wildfires near Los Angeles, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Chairs are stacked among the ruins in the aftermath of the Bridge Fire, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Wrightwood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

A fire-damaged forest is shown in the aftermath of the Bridge Fire, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Wrightwood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

A fire-ravaged property is seen after the Bridge Fire swept through, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Wrightwood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

A fire-ravaged property is seen after the Bridge Fire swept through, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Wrightwood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

FILE - The Line Fire jumps Highway 330 as an emergency vehicle is driven past Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, near Running Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer, File)

A vehicle and surrounding forest are burned after the Bridge Fire swept through Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Wrightwood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso homered and drove in five runs, Luisangel Acuña added his first major league longball to cap a huge night at the plate, and the New York Mets routed the Washington Nationals 10-1 on Tuesday to boost their chances in a close National League playoff race.

Tylor Megill (4-5) provided another terrific outing in place of injured starter Paul Blackburn, and Francisco Alvarez also went deep as the Mets improved to 10-2 against Washington this year.

New York is tied with Arizona for the second of three NL wild cards, two games ahead of rival Atlanta for the league’s last postseason berth with 11 to play. A loud cheer went up in the crowd of 24,932 at Citi Field when the out-of-town scoreboard showed Cincinnati had polished off a 6-5 comeback victory over the Braves.

“I'm just really fired up, because of the situation we've put ourselves in,” Alonso said, explaining his passionate address to teammates during a meeting Monday in the wake of Francisco Lindor's injury last weekend. "We control our own destiny.”

Jose Iglesias had three of New York's 14 hits and scored twice, batting leadoff with Lindor sidelined by a sore back. The 22-year-old Acuña, subbing for the MVP contender at shortstop, finished a triple shy of the cycle and scored three times from the No. 9 spot in his fourth big league game and second start.

“He's a true pro so far and that's awesome to see,” Alonso said.

Acuña, younger sibling of Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., knocked in New York's first run with a double for his first career extra-base hit. He connected for a solo homer in the eighth to finish with his first two RBIs.

“That confidence comes from my brother,” the younger Acuña said through a translator.

He received a congratulatory text message from his big brother, and plans to put the souvenir ball from his first home run in a trophy case in the new house he's building.

“Excited. Proud of myself,” Acuña said. “I think this is something that I earned.”

Alonso also was a triple short of the cycle. He blooped a two-run single off shaky starter Mitchell Parker (7-10) with the bases loaded in a four-run third inning, then launched a three-run homer in the sixth.

Iglesias extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

Acuña's first career error helped the Nationals score an unearned run in the third, but Megill recovered. He permitted just two hits in six innings and retired his final 10 batters — after striking out nine over six shutout innings of one-hit ball at Toronto last time out on Sept. 9.

“We just couldn’t catch up to a fastball,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “The guy was throwing fastballs, and we were late. Bad combination.”

Touted rookie Dylan Crews had three of Washington's four hits.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams (left shoulder) was back in the leadoff spot after missing four games. ... 2B Luis García Jr. exited in the fourth with a sore right wrist. ... RHP Trevor Williams (flexor muscle strain) threw a bullpen and could be reinstated from his minor league rehab assignment to start this weekend in Chicago against the Cubs. ... OF Alex Call (partial tear of plantar fascia) has been taking flyballs at Citi Field. “If everything goes well, we might possibly send him out on a quick rehab,” Martinez said. “I know we're running out of time here, but I would like to get him back and get him in some games.”

Mets: Lindor was feeling better, manager Carlos Mendoza said, and still hopes to return this week. ... RHP Kodai Senga (left calf strain) threw another bullpen and went through some fielding drills. The team will wait to see how he feels Wednesday before announcing whether Senga's next step will be live batting practice, a minor league rehab game or another bullpen session. Senga hopes to come off the 60-day injured list next week — he becomes eligible on Sept. 25 — to provide even a few innings before the regular season ends. ... OF Brandon Nimmo was rested against the left-hander.

UP NEXT

Mets LHP Jose Quintana (9-9, 3.91 ERA) makes his 30th start of the season when he faces left-hander DJ Herz (4-7, 3.70) in the series finale Wednesday night.

Quintana has allowed one earned run in 25 innings over his last four starts, winning the past three. He threw 14 shutout innings in back-to-back starts against Washington in early July.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Washington Nationals' Dylan Crews runs to second base for a double during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Nationals' Dylan Crews hits a double during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Luisangel Acuña hits an RBI double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Nationals' Mitchell Parker pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Tylor Megill pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Nationals pitcher Mitchell Parker reacts as New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso runs to second base for a double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez celebrates as he passes Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Luisangel Acuna tosses his bat as he runs the bases after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Luisangel Acuna hits a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso hits a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)