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Authorities: Apache Wildfire Caused By A Cigarette

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May 2, 2008 4:14 am US/Pacific

Authorities: Apache Wildfire Caused By A Cigarette

MOUNTAIN CENTER, Calif. (AP) ― Authorities say a lit cigarette caused a 784-acre wildfire burning in the San Bernardino National Forest.

U.S. Forest Service spokesman Carlton Joseph says the Apache fire, which erupted Tuesday, is 25 percent contained. Full containment is expected Sunday.

Calmer winds are helping the roughly 700 firefighters battling the fire in the San Jacinto Wilderness 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

Wind gusts over 40 miles per hour prevented the use of water-dropping aircraft Wednesday but winds eased yesterday, allowing air efforts to resume.

Authorities say steep terrain forced crews to hike several miles to reach the blaze and limited nighttime firefighting.

No injuries have been reported.

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