USA: Three firefighters are dead, after California wildfire burns out of control

Three firefighters are confirmed dead near Cabazon, California - near Palm Springs, after an overnight wildfire spread quickly Thursday (October 26). The U.S. Forest Service says two other firefighters were critically hurt helping to fight the 4,000 acre blaze called the "Esperanza Fire." Hundreds of resident were ordered to leave their homes. "That fire has killed three federal firefighters, and one firefighters is critically injured - and so far 700 people have been evacuated, and we have 700 firefighters battling this fire right now to contain it," California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said. Whipped by warm gusting winds, the Esperanza fire started shortly after midnight and spread rapidly. The fire was raging about 90 miles (145 km) east of Los Angeles and 17 miles (27 km) northwest of Palm Springs. A few homes burned to the ground and at least one man was taken to hospital with burns as he escaped the blaze, according to eyewitnesses. One local man said he watched his home burn to the ground. Fire officials could not confirm the early reports of damage or injuries, nor a second media report from the scene that said a fire truck with some 20 firefighters was missing in the fire area. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for the communities of Twin Pines and Poppet Ranch and two evacuation centers were set up in nearby towns.

ITN Source | October 27, 2006

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