USA: More than a dozen wildfires in Southern California have forced 250,000 people to evacuate their homes

Fast-moving wildfires claim at least 700 homes and force 250,000 people to evacuate. Wildfires burned unchecked on Tuesday (October 23, 2007) in Southern California, with hundreds of thousands of people forced to evacuate, at least 700 homes destroyed, and little hope for relief from the hot desert winds fanning the flames. The National Weather Service said "strong and damaging winds" will continue near Los Angeles through mid-afternoon, and high wind warnings may be issued for some areas Tuesday night. In San Diego, the hot, dry winds fanning the flames were expected through Wednesday. More than a dozen fires, whipped by hot, dry Santa Ana winds gusting to 70 miles per hour (113 kph) have swept unchecked over the past two days from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border 230 miles (370 km) to the south. Some 200,000 acres (80,000 hectares) have burned, overwhelming fire crews and state emergency services. One person has been killed and more than three dozen injured. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger summoned aid from 1,500 National Guard troops, including 200 from the Mexican border, to help with firefighting, evacuations and crowd control. Some 250,000 people who had been ordered to evacuate ahead of the flames spent the night out of their homes, about 10,000 of them at a San Diego area football stadium that had been converted to an emergency shelter. Neighboring states, including Nevada and Arizona, rushed in crews and equipment. President George W. Bush early on Tuesday declared an emergency in the state and authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief in the seven counties stricken by wildfires. In San Diego County south of Los Angeles, some 500 homes and 100 other buildings were reported burned to the ground by the Witch Fire. In the mountain communities of Lake Arrowhead and Running Springs, outside Los Angeles, some 130 homes were destroyed and fire crews fought to save others in the path of the flames. "

ITN Source | October 23, 2007

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