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Posted October 24, 2007 EST
Fire Has Control Right Now
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United States (California) -
The dozen wildfires raging across Southern California continued to overwhelm firefighters on Tuesday as the greatest wildfire evacuation in California history continued. As more than 500,000 people fled their homes, the fires burned across 600 square miles from San Diego to north of Malibu, destroying more than 1,800 homes.
One person had died, according to Jay Alan of the California Office of Emergency Services.
As firefighters and aircraft from Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and the federal government joined the battle, half of the blazes were 0% contained and none was 50% or more contained, according to the California Office of Emergency Services.
"The fire has control right now," said Rochelle Jenkins, spokeswoman for the office.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service said fire conditions in much of Southern California will remain "critical" today with near-record temperatures, sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph.
Some of the fast-moving fires were started accidentally, and arson is suspected in others. They come at a time when dry, fierce Santa Ana winds blow westward from the Mojave Desert.
The first possible break could come Thursday. Forecasters said slightly cooler temperatures will move in and the Santa Ana winds could be reversed by humid winds coming in from the Pacific Ocean.
That possibility seems far off for firefighters. A strike team continued fighting blazes around Lake Arrowhead on Tuesday, where more than 100 homes have been destroyed. Asked whether firefighters were close to gaining the upper hand, James Christian said "absolutely not."
"We don't have enough engines to protect what's threatened," said Christian, assistant chief of the Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire Protection District in Northern California.
President Bush declared an emergency Tuesday for the seven-county region, speeding federal disaster relief. He will visit the state on Thursday.
The federal government dispatched 32 firefighting crews and dozens of fire engines from the Agriculture Department, 1,239 federal firefighters, 25,000 cots and 280,000 bottles of water.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the administration learned from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 about the need for swift action and constant communication with state and local officials. "Those lessons were learned, and they're being applied," Perino said.
About 690,000 customers had lost power at some point since Sunday because of the winds and fires, according to power companies Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric. The two companies reported about 40,000 customers without power Tuesday night. Debra Reed, president and chief executive of SDG&E, said fires continued to threaten main transmission lines.
The NFL's San Diego Chargers moved their practices to Tempe, Ariz., on Tuesday after their home field, Qualcomm Stadium, was turned into an evacuation center.
Pierce College in Woodland Hills north of Los Angeles received more than 153 horses, a handful of goats, donkeys, alpacas and a 2-foot mini-horse named John Henry.
"You wouldn't believe how many animals there are in the L.A. area," Doreen Clay said.
An entire region continued bracing for the worst. Vincent Connelly, 70, evacuated his home in Arrowbear, near Lake Arrowhead.
On Tuesday, sitting in a shelter, he said he may give up on his home even if it survives this latest round of fires. "You get tired of it," he said. "We're all tired."
One person had died, according to Jay Alan of the California Office of Emergency Services.
As firefighters and aircraft from Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and the federal government joined the battle, half of the blazes were 0% contained and none was 50% or more contained, according to the California Office of Emergency Services.
"The fire has control right now," said Rochelle Jenkins, spokeswoman for the office.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service said fire conditions in much of Southern California will remain "critical" today with near-record temperatures, sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph.
Some of the fast-moving fires were started accidentally, and arson is suspected in others. They come at a time when dry, fierce Santa Ana winds blow westward from the Mojave Desert.
The first possible break could come Thursday. Forecasters said slightly cooler temperatures will move in and the Santa Ana winds could be reversed by humid winds coming in from the Pacific Ocean.
That possibility seems far off for firefighters. A strike team continued fighting blazes around Lake Arrowhead on Tuesday, where more than 100 homes have been destroyed. Asked whether firefighters were close to gaining the upper hand, James Christian said "absolutely not."
"We don't have enough engines to protect what's threatened," said Christian, assistant chief of the Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire Protection District in Northern California.
President Bush declared an emergency Tuesday for the seven-county region, speeding federal disaster relief. He will visit the state on Thursday.
The federal government dispatched 32 firefighting crews and dozens of fire engines from the Agriculture Department, 1,239 federal firefighters, 25,000 cots and 280,000 bottles of water.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the administration learned from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 about the need for swift action and constant communication with state and local officials. "Those lessons were learned, and they're being applied," Perino said.
About 690,000 customers had lost power at some point since Sunday because of the winds and fires, according to power companies Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric. The two companies reported about 40,000 customers without power Tuesday night. Debra Reed, president and chief executive of SDG&E, said fires continued to threaten main transmission lines.
The NFL's San Diego Chargers moved their practices to Tempe, Ariz., on Tuesday after their home field, Qualcomm Stadium, was turned into an evacuation center.
Pierce College in Woodland Hills north of Los Angeles received more than 153 horses, a handful of goats, donkeys, alpacas and a 2-foot mini-horse named John Henry.
"You wouldn't believe how many animals there are in the L.A. area," Doreen Clay said.
An entire region continued bracing for the worst. Vincent Connelly, 70, evacuated his home in Arrowbear, near Lake Arrowhead.
On Tuesday, sitting in a shelter, he said he may give up on his home even if it survives this latest round of fires. "You get tired of it," he said. "We're all tired."
Photos by AP
Written by USA Today
Courtesy of YellowBrix - AP - Watch Video
