A spate of small but unusual winter wildfires started amid extreme winds around Northern California on Tuesday as the region grappled with a winter that has been sorely lacking in substantial rain and snow. Around the Santa Cruz Mountains, evacuations were ordered as officials responded to at least five fires that ignited during dry and windy conditions. Many more blazes were reported around the Central Coast, the Bay Area and farther north.
another fire. several fires going on across the state, one up in northern california that winds could ignite the panther fire that has been raging and that, indeed, will take a lot of fire crews being deployed here. gregg: this could be a long and dangerous fire season in southern california and northern california. thanks very much. heather: jodi arias resuming tomorrow. jurors now deciding if she brutally murdered her boyfriend or if it was self-defense. gregg: plus guns for groceries, how police in one state are taking weapons off the streets in exchange for food. and a dramatic turn of events, a soccer referee punched by a teenager during a game has now died. the question is, what kind of charges will the boy now face.
subsided, crewsing about back through those areas, spraying them with foam or some type of flame retardant to make sure nothing can flare up. the biggest concern for firefighters is the wind. the wind can make it very unpredictable in way way these fires can blow, if there s any possible remnant of a flame still burning, any type of wood that could flare up again that would certainly be a major problem for them, that s why they are going back over those acres to make sure everything has been put out entirely. craig? i understand that this is not the only fire burping in california right now, there s another one in northern california, about 30 miles northeast of chico, i understand? what can you tell us about that one? reporter: that s correct. in fact there have been at least half a dozen fires burning all across the state over the past 72 hours. the large fire, the one they are calling the panther fire, took place in ta haima county, about two hours north of sacramento. there abo
is and is now threatening at least 4,000 homes. nbc s ayman mohyeldin is at magoo state park. what progress has been made there today? reporter: two different types of operations ongoing but today, officials are saying that fire that has burned throughout ventura county has been contained by or up to at least 30% so they do feel they are making progress. there is no doubt the weather has been a factor in that today. lower temperatures, higher humidity and more importantly, they are expecting in the next 48 hours or so some rain showers that would certainly help dampen those flames and give them the upper hand in trying to increase that number or that percentage that has been contained. the other part of the operation that is taking place that which i m about to show you, i m going to step out of the way, you get a sense from what you are seeing behind us, these are the type of open areas that have been burned out. even in areas were they have been burned, the fires have
tripled in size, growing to more than 43 square miles now. the wind-whipped fire erupted thursday and is now threatening as many as 4,000 homes. it s only about 30% contained. so far though, surprisingly perhaps, no injuries. i m craig melvin. good saturday to you. a quick look at other top stories making news right now. while the cause of that west, texas, fertilizer plant explosion that killed 14 is still under version the dallas morning news reports today the facility only had $1 million worth of liability insurance. given that the damage done in that small town of west could reportedly reach $100 million that coverage will only probably pay a fraction of the claims anticipated. the jodi arias murder trial is now in the hands of the jury. they deliberated for just a few hours yesterday. they will now have the weekend off. 32-year-old arias is charged with the first-degree murder of her ex-boyfriend, travis alexander.