California wildfire crews gain edge as last evacuation orders lifted

By Steve Gorman LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Crews battling to subdue the remnants of a sprawling Southern California wildfire held their ground on Thursday against a resurgence of winds that proved weaker than expected, allowing officials to lift all remaining evacuation orders and warnings. The so-called Thomas fire, California's second-largest on record, has charred 272,200 acres (110,155 hectares) of coastal mountains, foothills and canyons across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties northwest of Los Angeles, fire officials said. Much of their progress was made during three days in which diminished winds, cooler temperatures and higher humidity levels allowed firefighters to go on the attack against a blaze that had kept them on the defensive for the better part of two weeks.