Southern California firefighters have gained ground against a wildfire that has destroyed at least 132 structures, mostly houses, as favorable conditions were expected to continue through the weekend

The region northwest of Los Angeles has seen some of California’s most destructive fires over the years. The Mountain Fire swiftly grew from less than half a square mile (about 1.2 square kilometers) to more than 16 square miles (41 square kilometers) in little more than five hours on Wednesday, with gusts topping 61 mph (98 kph).