Southern Calif. Fire Fight Intensifies From Air, Ground

Thirty aircraft are dropping water and retardant in a battle to tame a 12,500-acre California wildfire crackling through bush and brush on a remote American Indian reservation in northeast San Diego County.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Tom Piranio says a Monday morning briefing by fire bosses shows the blaze is 45 percent contained, or surrounded.

There’s no estimate on full containment.

The fire broke out Thursday on the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation and has moved into Anza-Borrego State Park. A shed was destroyed but no homes have burned and no homes are threatened.

Fire firefighters have reported minor injuries, mostly heat exhaustion.

Eight air tankers are dropping fire retardant and 22 helicopters are bombarding flames with water. More than 1,800 firefighters are battling on the ground.