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| Californians flee as fires rage | Californians flee as fires rage |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| California has evacuated a quarter of a million people as fierce winds fan wildfires in the Los Angeles region, stretching south to the Mexican border. | California has evacuated a quarter of a million people as fierce winds fan wildfires in the Los Angeles region, stretching south to the Mexican border. |
| At least one person has died and thousands of homes are at risk in seven counties, where fires have scorched some 240,000 acres (97,000 hectares). | At least one person has died and thousands of homes are at risk in seven counties, where fires have scorched some 240,000 acres (97,000 hectares). |
| Firefighters warn that the fires, which are being fanned by hot winds, will get worse in the days ahead. | Firefighters warn that the fires, which are being fanned by hot winds, will get worse in the days ahead. |
| Hotter temperatures and high winds are forecast for Tuesday. | Hotter temperatures and high winds are forecast for Tuesday. |
| At least 655 homes have been destroyed, including at least 133 homes in one mountain resort community. Thousands more homes are threatened across the region. | At least 655 homes have been destroyed, including at least 133 homes in one mountain resort community. Thousands more homes are threatened across the region. |
| Map: Major wildfires in southern California | Map: Major wildfires in southern California |
| President George W Bush has declared a state of emergency in seven counties in California, authorising the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) to tackle the fires. | President George W Bush has declared a state of emergency in seven counties in California, authorising the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) to tackle the fires. |
| About 1,500 National Guardsmen have been brought in to help firefighters. | About 1,500 National Guardsmen have been brought in to help firefighters. |
| After visiting charred homes in Malibu, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said it was a "tragic time" for California. | After visiting charred homes in Malibu, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said it was a "tragic time" for California. |
| It was like Armageddon - it looked like the end of the world Mitch MendlerSan Diego firefighter California fires in pictures Your pictures: California fires Readers' experiences "We have... the weather conditions that are perfect for huge fires all over the state," he told reporters. | It was like Armageddon - it looked like the end of the world Mitch MendlerSan Diego firefighter California fires in pictures Your pictures: California fires Readers' experiences "We have... the weather conditions that are perfect for huge fires all over the state," he told reporters. |
| "We have a lot of wind and we have dry weather, and that's the perfect storm." | "We have a lot of wind and we have dry weather, and that's the perfect storm." |
| LA county supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said emergency workers had been "stressed almost beyond the point of reason". | LA county supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said emergency workers had been "stressed almost beyond the point of reason". |
| The ground is tinder-dry after a record summer heat wave. | The ground is tinder-dry after a record summer heat wave. |
| In San Diego county, ambulances and school buses were used to move hundreds of people from hospitals, nursing homes and prisons threatened by advancing flames. | In San Diego county, ambulances and school buses were used to move hundreds of people from hospitals, nursing homes and prisons threatened by advancing flames. |
| San Diego Fire Captain Lisa Blake said local firefighters lacked the resources to save all the homes at risk. | San Diego Fire Captain Lisa Blake said local firefighters lacked the resources to save all the homes at risk. |
| Landmark lost | Landmark lost |
| More than 1,500 firefighters have been battling the blazes. | More than 1,500 firefighters have been battling the blazes. |
| A fire in the town of Potrero, near San Diego, killed one person and injured at least 10 others. | A fire in the town of Potrero, near San Diego, killed one person and injured at least 10 others. |
| href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_enl_1193162148/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_enl_1193162148/html/1.stm', '1193162213', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=485,height=333,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Satellite images show the smoke from the California wildfires being blown out to sea href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_enl_1193162148/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_enl_1193162148/html/1.stm', '1193162213', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=485,height=333,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image | |
| One San Diego firefighter, Mitch Mendler, said: "It was like Armageddon. It looked like the end of the world." | One San Diego firefighter, Mitch Mendler, said: "It was like Armageddon. It looked like the end of the world." |
| The fire in Malibu is thought to have been caused by a power cable that ignited after being blown over in heavy wind. | The fire in Malibu is thought to have been caused by a power cable that ignited after being blown over in heavy wind. |
| Among the buildings destroyed in the town of 13,000 residents were the famous Castle Kashan home and a Presbyterian church. | Among the buildings destroyed in the town of 13,000 residents were the famous Castle Kashan home and a Presbyterian church. |
| Thousands of students at nearby Pepperdine University were also evacuated. The coastal area is home to many celebrities, including actor Mel Gibson, rock star Sting and singer Barbra Streisand. | Thousands of students at nearby Pepperdine University were also evacuated. The coastal area is home to many celebrities, including actor Mel Gibson, rock star Sting and singer Barbra Streisand. |
| MAJOR WILDFIRES Situation as of 8.31 pm local time, 22 October 2007:1. Harris fire: 22,000 acres consumed, 5% contained.2. Rice fire: 1,500 acres burned in San Diego county, 50 houses destroyed3. Witch fire: 145,000 acres in San Diego County. Some 500 houses and 100 businesses destroyed. 36,000 residents in Ramona evacuated4. Buckweed fire: 35,000 acres. Mandatory evacuation order of 15,000 local residents in place.5. Magic fire: 1,200 acres burned, moving towards Ventura but not currently threatening any structures.6. Ranch fire: 41,000 acres burned, 10% contained. Local evacuation orders in place.7. Canyon fire: 3,800 acres consumed. 600 houses threatened, some 1,700 firefighters deployed.8. Slide fire: 1,500 acres burned, 20 houses destroyed and 400 threatened.9. Santiago fire: 15,200 acres burned, 30% contained. Some 3,000 houses threatened in local area. | MAJOR WILDFIRES Situation as of 8.31 pm local time, 22 October 2007:1. Harris fire: 22,000 acres consumed, 5% contained.2. Rice fire: 1,500 acres burned in San Diego county, 50 houses destroyed3. Witch fire: 145,000 acres in San Diego County. Some 500 houses and 100 businesses destroyed. 36,000 residents in Ramona evacuated4. Buckweed fire: 35,000 acres. Mandatory evacuation order of 15,000 local residents in place.5. Magic fire: 1,200 acres burned, moving towards Ventura but not currently threatening any structures.6. Ranch fire: 41,000 acres burned, 10% contained. Local evacuation orders in place.7. Canyon fire: 3,800 acres consumed. 600 houses threatened, some 1,700 firefighters deployed.8. Slide fire: 1,500 acres burned, 20 houses destroyed and 400 threatened.9. Santiago fire: 15,200 acres burned, 30% contained. Some 3,000 houses threatened in local area. |
| Only fires which have consumed 1,000 acres or more are listed. Sources: Cal Fire, US National Interagency Fire Center | Only fires which have consumed 1,000 acres or more are listed. Sources: Cal Fire, US National Interagency Fire Center |
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