USA: California fires rage on but some progress seen

The cost of the wildfires in California is running into billions of dollars. As the fires continued into a fifth day on Thursday (October25) San Diego County estimated its losses alone in excess of one billion dollars. But as 9000 weary firefighters continued to battle the flames there was some headway being made. Hot winds abated for the first time since the fires started. Eighteen separate fires are being tackled and the skies remain choked with thick, acrid smoke that has forced residents to stay indoors or wear masks to protect their eyes and lungs. San Diego County, at the southern end of the state of California, has been hardest hit. Even as some of the 500,000 evacuees were allowed to return home, three major fires burned out of control there. After the largest evacuation in California's modern history, officials combed areas for residents to return, looking for hot spots, utility breakdowns and looters before giving the all-clear. One of the most desperate fights was in Orange County, south of Los Angeles, where the 20,000-acre (8,094 hectare) Santiago fire that had defied the efforts of fire crews for days was threatening homes in a gated community. Crews dug a protective line between the flames and the neighbourhoods, aided by water-dropping helicopters. Authorities were investigating suspicions that the Santiago fire was set by an arsonist and federal prosecutors said the FBI had been asked to assist in the probe. Los Angeles County also reported progress, cancelling wind warnings for the first time since hot Santa Ana gusts blew in from the desert over the weekend, fanning brush fires after one of the driest summers on record. President George W. Bush declared a "major disaster" in seven Southern California counties, triggering extra federal help. He will travel to the region on Thursday to get a close-up look at the devastation.

ITN Source | October 25, 2007

Tags:. .california. .seen. .eyes. .dollars. .control