YORBA LINDA--Thousands of firefighters are demobilizing in the wake of the weekend firestorm. None of the fires will be declared under full control until the last smoldering embers are out.

Strike teams say they were outnumbered last Saturday by the fast-moving flames fueled by gale-force winds. Orange County Fire Authority Battalion Chief Chris Conception says they couldn’t get resources into the outskirts of Yorba Linda fast enough.

“The wind was pushing the fire faster than normal. That’s the reason for the hop-scotching, and the problem we had was the flying embers.”

Costs to fight the Freeway Complex fires has eclipsed $10 million.

Story Date: November 21, 2008