Springs fire expected to be fully controlled by Tuesday afternoon

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Crews clear berms near Borchard Road in Newbury Park in an effort to prevent potential flooding. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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Crews inspect burned areas near Borchard Road in Newbury Park. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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An air tanker drops fire retardant near fire crews in rugged, steep terrain to battle the Gorgonio fire off Highway 243 in Banning. As of 6:30 p.m., the fire was 20% contained at 650 acres. Seven air tankers and two helicopters were on the scene. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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A fire crew made up of prison inmates climbs through a burned area in Hidden Valley looking for hot spots. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Scorched earth and charred trees left behind the Springs fire above Hidden Valley. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter is dwarfed by the burned hillside above Hidden Valley where the Springs fire burned. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters keep an eye on a smoldering area along Potrero Road in Newbury Park where crews lit back fires last night to prevent further spread of the Springs fire. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Blackened hillsides above Hidden Valley that burned in the Springs fire. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Neighborhood residents gather along Portrero Road in Newbury Park to watch as fire crews mop up after pushing the Springs fire away from the area. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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As dawn breaks Saturday and cooler onshore winds push the Springs fire back on itself, a man walks past a fire truck stationed in the driveway of a home to provide protection for a Thousand Oaks neighborhood. (Eddy Hartenstein / Los Angeles Times)

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A fire crew heads out to do mop-up work in Thousand Oaks early Saturday morning. (Eddy Hartenstein / Los Angeles Times)

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Brandon Middleton, a member of the Rogue River Hotshots from Prospect, Ore., grabs some rest Saturday morning at the fire command post in Freedom Park in Camarillo. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Members of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority get deployment instructions at the command post in Freedom Park in Camarillo. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Ted Schaffer with Cal Fire Rainbow Camp sets his radio at the command post in Freedom Park in Camarillo. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Scott Schuster, left, of the Ventura County Fire Department confirms plans with Jeremy Roesler of Cal Fire and John Spykerman, also of Ventura County Fire at the fire command post Saturday morning. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighter Brent Smith of the Orange County Fire Department sits atop a firetruck as his unit awaits orders Saturday morning. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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California prison inmates enlisted as fire crew members head to tents for rest Saturday morning at the Springs fire command post in Freedom Park in Camarillo. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Flames from the Springs fire threaten homes in Thousand Oaks on Friday. (Eddy Hartenstein / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter from Stockton gets into position to fight the blaze in Hidden Valley. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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As smoke billows from the Springs fire, a lifeguard keeps an eye on swimmers at Zuma Beach. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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A light aircraft circles the Camarillo Airport against a sun and sky made red by smoke from the Springs fire, which showed signs of slowing Friday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters from Stockton prepare to extinguish flames off Hidden Valley Rd. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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Fire in the hills above Hidden Valley in the Thousand Oaks threatens homes and livestock. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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The Springs fire threatens homes in Hidden Valley and Lake Sherwood. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters work to protect a home in Hidden Valley (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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The Springs fire threatens homes in Hidden Valley. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters work to contain the blaze in Hidden Valley. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters from Rialto keep an eye on the Springs fire from Rancho Saint Frances above Portrero Rd. in Hidden Valley. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters watch smoke rise from the Springs fire in the mountains above Malibu. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Richard Jenson tries to protect his home from the advancing Springs fire in the mountains above Malibu. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters battle hot spots. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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A pillar of flame rises behind Pacific View Road in the mountains above Malibu. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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A deer runs across burnt landscape from the Springs fire in the mountains above Malibu. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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A fixed-wing aircraft drops a load of Phos-Chek on the Springs fire in the mountains above Malibu. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighting helicopter is dwarfed by smoke and ash from the Springs fire in the mountains above Malibu. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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An aerial view of the Springs fire burning in the Santa Monica Mountains between Malibu and Newbury Park. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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An aerial view of the Springs fire burning in the Santa Monica Mountains between Malibu and Newbury Park. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters battle hot spots from the Springs fire in the mountains above Malibu. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters battle hot spots from the Springs fire in the mountains above Malibu. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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The Spring fire moves south toward the Ventura county line on Pacific Coast Highway near Neptune’s Net. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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A lifeguard tower is silhouetted by the fire above Pacific Coast Highway as flames head toward the ocean. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Picnic tables and trees glow in the firelight at Sycamore State Beach as flames head toward the ocean. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter battles flames near structures around Sycamore Canyon as the Springs fire makes its way to Pacific Coast Highway. (Luis Sinco /Los Angeles Times)

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A car passes a lifeguard tower on Pacific Coast Highway as flames head toward the ocean south of Oxnard. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Manhattan Beach firefighters work on a hillside behind homes as a major brush fire rages on Los Vientos Drive in Newbury Park. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Fred Whitelaw hoses down the backyard of his home as firefighters work a major brush fire on Los Vientos Drive in Newbury Park. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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An aerial view of the Springs fire as it burns at Borchard Road. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Manhattan Beach firefighters work on a hillside behind homes as a major brush fire rages on Los Vientos Drive. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Aerial view of Springs fire as it burns at Borchard Road at sunset. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Manhattan Beach firefighters work on a hillside behind homes as a brush fire rages on Los Vientos Drive. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Residents watch as firefighters work a brush fire on Los Vientos Drive. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Kristian Atkins covers his face while watching firefighters work a major brush fire on Barcelona Place. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Motorists stop along Pacific Coast Highway near Point Dume to view and photograph a large plume of smoke blowing out to sea from a wildfire further inland in Newbury Park and Camarillo on Thursday. (Luis Sinco /Los Angeles Times)

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A helicopter makes a water drop on a hot spot in the ridges above Newbury Park. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter walks up a smoldering ridge in Newbury Park. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter is dwarfed by flames raging across a ridgeline near Newbury Park. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters walk along a charred ridgeline as they set up a fire line in the hills above Newbury Park. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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A Navy firefighter climps the backyard stairs at a home on Via Pluma as the Springs fire threatens hillside homes in Newbury Park. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Matt Plambek stops to photograph firefighters at work on Via Pluma as the Springs fire threatens homes in his neighborhood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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A helicopter picks up water from a reservoir in Newbury Park to fight the Springs fire. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighting helicopter drops its load on the ridge near the Dos Vientos neighborhood in Newbury Park on Thursday afternoon. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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Black smoke billows from farm fields near California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo The campus was surrounded by fire and was evacuated. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Flames consume a hillside along Borchard Road in Newbury Park. (Scott Harrison / Los Angeles Times)

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Ventura County firefighters position themselves to protect homes from the Springs fire in Newbury Park. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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A Ventura County firefighter dashes to protect homes on Via Santa Ana as the Springs fire rages in Newbury Park. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Ventura County firefighters prepare hoses on Via Santa Ana as they fight the Springs fire in Newbury Park. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Jeff Meinecke rescues a rabbit from the middle of Borchard Road as flames from the Springs fire pushed frightened wildlife from their hillside habitat in Newbury Park. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Pedestrians try to protect themselves from the smoky air along Borchard Road in Newbury Park. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighter hand crew member Steven Alurac works the eastern flank of the Springs fire. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters worked to contain the Springs fire, being fueled by dry Santa Ana winds and warm temperatures. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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A hot shot crew prepares to take on the Springs fire along its eastern flank in Newbury Park. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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A Ventura County firefighter douses burned vehicles in an RV storage area in Camarillo Springs. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Trever Antrin watches as the Spring fire burns near Camarillo Springs. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Ventura County fire makes a water drop over the Dos Vientos development in Newbury Park. (Robert St. John / Los Angeles Times)

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An RV storage area burns and propane tanks explode as a wind-whipped fire burns in Camarillo Springs. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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A Ventura county firefighter monitors flames burning behind homes in Camarillo Springs. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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A deer runs from the flames in Camarillo Springs. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Residents watch as flames burn behind their homes in Camarillo Springs. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Black smoke rises above an RV storage area that burned in Camarillo Springs. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Nita Hoyle evacuates her mobile home in a Camarillo Springs mobile home park along with her 89-year-old father, Harold Ames. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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A homeowner in the Dos Vientos neighborhood runs to pack his belongings and flee the approaching Springs fire in Newbury Park. (Robert St. John / Los Angeles Times)

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The Springs fire burns near the Dos Vientos neighborhood of Newbury Park. (Robert St. John / Los Angeles Times)

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The Springs fire approaches the Dos Vientos neighborhood of Newbury Park. (Robert St. John / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters work to contain the Springs fire in Newbury Park. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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Fire retardant is dropped by an air tanker on flames from the Springs fire in Camarillo Springs. (Scott Harrison / Los Angeles Times)

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The Springs fire burns on the west side of Newbury Park. (Scott Harrison / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters move into position in the smoke-choked Dos Vientos neighborhood of Newbury Park as the Springs fire advances. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Jarrod Lerette, who had just dropped off his daughter at school, watches as a wind-whipped brush fire burns near Camarillo Springs. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters work on the Conejo grade while battling a brush fire near Camarillo. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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A helicopter makes a drop as a wind-whipped brush fire burns in Camarillo Springs. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Smoke from a brush fire near Camarillo billows above Newbury Park. (Scott Harrison / Los Angeles Times)

By Hector Becerra and Anthony York

May 7, 2013 7:26 AM PT

The Springs fire in Ventura County was 90% contained Tuesday morning and was expected to be completely under control by the end of the day, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The blaze damaged 15 homes but did not destroy any buildings and only inflicted minor injuries on civilians and firefighters, officials said. The flames burned through decades-old brush around Point Mugu State Park as it scorched a path to the sea and Pacific Coast Highway.

A dramatic change in the weather over the weekend, with showers and cooler temperatures, helped firefighters gain control of the blaze.

For firefighters trying to mop up the 28,000-acre wildfire that broke out last week under blistering temperatures, the rain couldn’t have come at a better time -- even if Southern California’s fire season still looks to be an ominous one.

Tom Piranio, a spokesman for the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said that although it didn’t rain enough in the Springs fire area for people to need an umbrella, it was more than enough to help firefighters slow the blaze’s momentum.

“It gave the firefighters an advantage to put out hot spots and strengthen the line,” Piranio said, adding that the rain and cooling made it easier on crews who for days had been working in temperatures approaching 100 degrees.

Bill Patzert, a climatologist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge, said that as of Monday morning, enough rain had fallen to push L.A.’s total to about 5.84 inches since July 1. That means the 2012-13 rain year, which runs from July 1 to June 30, is now the sixth-driest year on record, not the fourth.

With the rain, this year surpassed 1959, when 5.58 inches of rain fell, and 1899, which saw 5.59 inches. Patzert said it would take an unlikely amount of rainfall for this year to fall into seventh place, which belongs to 1924 when 6.67 inches fell.

“Rain is always good,” he said. “This small May miracle couldn’t have been better timed in terms of the fires, because although modest, it really gives the firefighters some help.”

The Springs fire raged out of control after one of the driest winters in the 135 years since rain records have been kept for Southern California. Strong Santa Ana winds, unusual this time of the year, pushed the flames forward.

Southern California experienced an exceedingly dry stretch from January to March -- normally the region’s wettest months -- and then received virtually no rainfall in April. May normally gets only about a third of an inch of rain, said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

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