Two Huge Southern California Wildfires Now One

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. (AP) – Two huge Southern California wildfires are now one.

Fire officials say the 53,000-acre Sawtooth fire and 8,300-acre Millard fire merged around 3 p-m. San Bernardino County fire spokeswoman Tracey Martinez says the blaze is moving at a slow to moderate rate of speed and wind is currently not a critical factor.

Martinez says the fire is moving southeast toward Mission Creek and northwest away from Burns Canyon, both sparsely populated areas.

She says the fire is going in the direction they expected it to and are “fighting it with a heavy attack.”

A positive sign — wind was pushing the Millard fire away from the mountaintop Big Bear resort region and back onto areas already burned by the other fire.

Martinez says there’s no danger to Big Bear residents at this time.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)