USA: Epic wave of wildfires continues to engulf southern California

Fires continue to burn unchecked in southern California as night falls on day three of the disaster. A wave of fast-moving wildfires engulfed a massive swath of southern California on Monday (October 22), destroying hundreds of homes as more than 250,000 people were told to evacuate from neighbourhoods, schools and hospitals. At least 13 fires, whipped by dry, gale-force Santa Ana winds blowing unchecked over the lower half of the state, torching 200,000 acres (81,000 hectares), killing one person and injuring more than 30 others. With fire crews and state emergency services overwhelmed, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said 1,500 National Guard troops had been summoned, including 200 from the Mexican border, to help with firefighting, evacuations and crowd control. Neighbouring states, including Nevada and Arizona, rushed in crews and equipment and President George W. Bush called Schwarzenegger to offer assistance in the worst-hit areas. The Department of Defense confirmed it will send six C-130 aircraft capable of dropping 3,000 gallons (13,200 liters) of water or fire retardant. The planes, stationed in Colorado, Wyoming and North Carolina, should arrive by Tuesday. The firestorms closed major state highways, schools and businesses and plumes of thick black smoke drifted across much of southern California, blotting out the sun. Local radio reports said 13 people had been treated at a San Diego burn centre. One person was killed on Sunday by a fire near the Mexican border. Two fires that merged north of the city of San Diego and scorched 18,000 acres (7,280 hectares) prompted authorities to order 250,000 people evacuated from an area roughly 12 square miles (31 sq km) encompassing clusters of upscale communities, ranches and country clubs. Earlier in the day, gusts of up to 75 mph (121 kph) prevented firefighters from using fixed-wing aircraft to battle the blazes, said state Fire Chief Bill Metcalf. The blazes began during a seasonal blast of Southern California's legendary Sana Ana winds, which blow westward from the desert across dead and bone-dry mountains and foothills in one of California's driest years.

ITN Source | October 23, 2007

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