BRIEFLY : HOMES IN CAMARILLO ESCAPE FIRE DAMAGE.

CAMARILLO - A blaze that burned 150 acres of brush and briefly threatened homes in the Camarillo Heights area was 70 percent contained by Sunday afternoon.

The fire broke out about 1:45 p.m. in the 700 block of Alosta Drive. Helicopters, working in conjunction with land crews, managed to keep the blaze from spreading into the residential tract, fire officials said.

``We haven't had a fire in the 35 years I have lived here,'' said Irene Hofer, who watched as helicopters sprayed fire retardant on the hillside leading up to her Ocean View Drive home. ``There was a lot of old brush that has burned up.''

Fire officials said the residents' weed abatement program helped keep the fire away from the neighborhoods.

?13Daily News

Mystery goo found on Monterey Bay

WATSONVILLE - Cleanup crews remained at Monterey Bay on Sunday while scientists tried to identify the sticky substance in the water that has injured scores of seabirds.

The oil - discovered Friday in large slicks in several parts of the bay - poses no danger to humans and its threat to wildlife appears to have subsided, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Shannon Knight.

But Knight said scientists, who at first thought it might be sardine oil, remain baffled about exactly what the substance is.

``Unfortunately, it's a very detailed process but they're working on it. We know it's not petroleum and we know it's not toxic to humans,'' she said. ``It could be linseed oil, or vegetable oil. We just don't know what it is or what its source is.''

As many as 200 birds have been treated by officials from the state Department of Fish and Game and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It was unknown how many had died.

?13Associated Press