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Fire menaces Los Angeles suburbs Fire menaces Los Angeles suburbs
(about 8 hours later)
A wildfire whipped up by near-hurricane force winds has forced thousands to flee their homes in the northern foothill suburbs of Los Angeles. A wildfire whipped up by near-hurricane force Santa Ana winds has forced thousands to flee their homes in the northern suburbs of Los Angeles.
The fire near the community of Sylmar has burnt through 6,500 acres (2,600 hectares) and destroyed hundreds of homes, officials said. The fire near the community of Sylmar has so far burnt through 8,000 acres (3,237 hectares) and destroyed hundreds of homes in the San Fernando Valley.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa warned that the city's power supply was threatened by the fire.
Further west, another fire continues to burn in the wealthy town of Montecito.Further west, another fire continues to burn in the wealthy town of Montecito.
The Sylmar fire broke out late on Friday and spread rapidly, whipped up by hot winds of up to 76mph (122 km/h). Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties.
We have almost total devastation here in the mobile park. I can't even read the street names because the street signs are melting Los Angeles Fire Captain Steve Ruda class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7731706.stm">In pictures: Los Angeles wildfire "When you walk around the areas that were devastated, it looked like hell today," he told a news conference on Saturday.
The fire has spread so quickly that some residents have been given only 10 minutes to leave their homes. Firefighters were braving 50ft flame lengths as they swept across the mobile homes Los Angeles Fire Captain Steve Ruda class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7731706.stm">In pictures: Los Angeles wildfire
The mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, has meanwhile warned that the fire has brought down power lines and could cause rolling blackouts.
"We're at the mercy of the wind. Mother Nature's not been too good to us for the last 15 hours," he said.
Mr Villaraigosa urged people living near the fire zone not to wait for the flames to approach before leaving.Mr Villaraigosa urged people living near the fire zone not to wait for the flames to approach before leaving.
"If you wait for the fire to get there, you waited too long," he said."If you wait for the fire to get there, you waited too long," he said.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles County, allowing state resources to be used to fight the fire. He had earlier made the same commitment for the Montecito fire in Santa Barbara County, north-west of Los Angeles. No deaths have so far been reported, although Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton said he feared bodies might be found at the Oakridge Mobile Home Park, where some 500 mobile homes were burnt to the ground overnight.
Hospital evacuated Mr Bratton said rescue crews would have to wait for the ground to cool before bringing in search dogs to find any victims.
Officials ordered about 10,000 residents of Sylmar and nearby Porter Ranch to evacuate their homes as the flames quickly jumped the wide Interstate 5 and Highway 210. Both roads have been closed to traffic. "It was an absolute firestorm," said Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Steve Ruda of the Oakridge blaze.
The fire sprang up quickly late on Friday, fanned by high windsFire crews gave up trying to rescue a mobile home park as the flames burned out of control, destroying about 500 homes. "Firefighters were braving 50ft flame lengths as they swept across the mobile homes," he told the Reuters news agency, adding that heat from the flames had melted his firefighters' hoses to the road.
"We have almost total devastation here in the mobile park," Los Angeles Fire Captain Steve Ruda said describing the Oakridge Mobile Home Park in Sylmar. Cause unknown
"I can't even read the street names because the street signs are melting." The Sylmar fire broke out late on Friday in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest and spread rapidly, whipped up by hot winds of up to 76mph (122 km/h).
California fires 'emergency'
Officials soon ordered about 10,000 residents of Sylmar and nearby Porter Ranch to evacuate their homes as the flames jumped the wide Interstate 5 and Highway 210. Both roads have been closed to traffic.
As of Saturday evening, about 20% of the fire had been contained, fire officials said. In addition to helping spread the fires rapidly, the continued high winds have restricted the use of water-dropping planes.
Critical care patients were evacuated from the Olive View-UCLA Medical Centre as the fire approached at midnight on Friday, causing a three-hour power failure.Critical care patients were evacuated from the Olive View-UCLA Medical Centre as the fire approached at midnight on Friday, causing a three-hour power failure.
More than 600 firefighters are battling the blaze on the edge of the Angeles National Forest, relying on water-bombing helicopters and planes in the hilly terrain. More than 1,100 firefighters are battling the blaze as shifting winds pushed it in two directions - toward the San Gabriel Mountains in the national forest and towards the northern suburbs of Los Angeles.
Shifting winds have pushed the fire in two directions - toward the San Gabriel Mountains in the national forest and towards the northern suburbs of Los Angeles. "Near-hurricane winds made it very difficult for firefighters," said Los Angeles Deputy Fire Chief Mario Rueda. "When they arrived, it was very well developed into the forest."
"Near-hurricane winds made it very difficult for firefighters," said Los Angeles deputy fire chief Mario Rueda. Mr Rueda said firefighters were patrolling the evacuated neighbourhoods, making sure flying embers did not start small fires which later spread.
Mr Villaraigosa said the fire could cut the transmission lines supplying electricity to the city. The wildfire in Montecito, west of Los Angeles, is now about 60% contained
"We may have to move to rolling blackouts," he said, urging residents to conserve power.
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Fire crews battle the wildfire in Montecito
The cause of the Sylmar fire is not yet known. It broke out as crews were still battling another major blaze about 80 miles (130km) to the west, in the wealthy enclave of Montecito, near Santa Barbara.The cause of the Sylmar fire is not yet known. It broke out as crews were still battling another major blaze about 80 miles (130km) to the west, in the wealthy enclave of Montecito, near Santa Barbara.
Thousands of residents have had to flee that fire, burning since Thursday. Thousands of residents have had to flee that fire since it began on Thursday.
At least 100 homes have been destroyed or damaged in the secluded area that is home to celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Rob Lowe, Michael Douglas and John Cleese. More than 180 homes have been destroyed or damaged in the secluded area that is home to celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Rob Lowe, Michael Douglas and John Cleese.
Multi-million dollar homes have been turned into smouldering piles of rubble surrounded by a grey, ash-coated landscape.Multi-million dollar homes have been turned into smouldering piles of rubble surrounded by a grey, ash-coated landscape.
At least 13 people have been treated for burns or smoke inhalation.At least 13 people have been treated for burns or smoke inhalation.
In that fire too, hot winds have whipped up the flames as they burnt through brush and trees which have seen little rain in recent months.In that fire too, hot winds have whipped up the flames as they burnt through brush and trees which have seen little rain in recent months.
It is now about 60% contained, fire officials said.
Are you in Los Angeles? Have you been affected by the wildfires? Send in your comments and experiences.Are you in Los Angeles? Have you been affected by the wildfires? Send in your comments and experiences.
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.
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