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California fires affect 500,000 Wildfires force California exodus
(about 13 hours later)
More than half a million people have been ordered to evacuate parts of the US state of California being engulfed by massive wildfires. More than 500,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes to escape wildfires in California in the biggest US evacuation since Hurricane Katrina.
Fierce winds are fanning at least 16 fires that have razed land from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border. Fierce winds are fanning fast-moving fires that have ravaged land from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border.
The blazes have left two people dead and destroyed more than 1,200 homes and businesses, say officials. The blazes have left one person dead, destroyed 1,300 homes and businesses, and are threatening 68,000 more.
President George W Bush will visit the state on Thursday, after declaring a state of emergency in seven counties.President George W Bush will visit the state on Thursday, after declaring a state of emergency in seven counties.
A White House spokeswoman said Mr Bush, whose administration was accused of a sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina two years ago, wanted to "witness first-hand" the crisis. A White House spokeswoman said Mr Bush, whose administration was accused of a sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast two years ago, wanted to "witness first-hand" the crisis.
Map: See where the wild fires have spread
Up to 300,000 acres (120,000 hectares) of land have been scorched - an area bigger than New York City.Up to 300,000 acres (120,000 hectares) of land have been scorched - an area bigger than New York City.
Heat and wind Forestry officials say the seasonal Santa Ana winds are hampering their efforts to contain 19 fires raging across the state, and high wind warnings will remain in effect for most of the region until Wednesday afternoon.
On Tuesday, 6,000 firefighters were struggling to contain the flames, which are being fuelled by hot 70mph (113km/h) winds. TACKLING THE FLAMES 5,400 firefighters1,500 national guards50 firefighting planes40 helicopters class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7059705.stm">Battling the inferno class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/7056970.stm">Readers' experiences class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3725&edition=1">Are you affected?
Officials have warned the heat and wind levels are not likely to abate for 24 hours. At least 45 people have been injured, including 21 firefighters, according to an Associated Press news agency count.
name="back"> In San Diego County, which has been hardest hit, firefighters have been working in difficult conditions.
About 513,000 people in San Diego County have received a mandatory evacuation order, officials said. "We've been faced with winds of 60 to 70mph. We've been faced with embers from that fire floating in the air a half-a-mile to three-quarters of a mile away from the fire, underneath people's roofs, onto their back yards, starting those things on fire," spokesman Maurice Luque told the BBC.
Map: Major wildfires in southern California
The wildfires have so far claimed two lives - a 52-year-old man whose body was found on Sunday and an unidentified civilian who died of burns in a Santa Clarita fire, officials said.
Around 40 people have been injured, including at least 18 firefighters.
Thousands of residents sought shelter at fairgrounds, schools and community centres.
The largest gathering - of up to 10,000 evacuees - was at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders told people to "stay at home, stay off the freeways" so fire crews and evacuees could keep moving.
It was like Armageddon - it looked like the end of the world Mitch MendlerSan Diego firefighter In pictures: California fires Readers' experiences Cruise worry over fires
Red Cross workers and 1,500 National Guardsmen have been brought in to help firefighters.
The coastal area is home to many celebrities, including actor Mel Gibson, rock star Sting and singer Barbra Streisand.
After visiting charred homes in Malibu, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said it was a "tragic time" for California.
"I think that the most we need now is the weather to change, because we have those really strong winds that throw the flames and send the flames to other areas and then it starts another fire and another fire," he told reporters.
Landmark lost
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.
San Diego Fire Captain Lisa Blake said local firefighters lacked the resources to save all the homes at risk.
Satellite images show the smoke from the California wildfires being blown out to seaEnlarge 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. This disaster is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capability of the state and local governments Arnold SchwarzeneggerCalifornia Governor class="" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&ie=UTF8&om=1&msa=0&msid=114250687465160386813.00043d08ac31fe3357571&ll=32.990236,-116.732483&spn=1.105782,1.757813&z=9&source=embed">KPBS radio's Google map of the fires class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7059371.stm">Paradise lost in California class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7058657.stm">In pictures: California fires
Among the buildings destroyed in the town of 13,000 residents were the famous Castle Kashan home and a Presbyterian church. County officials placed evacuation calls to 346,000 homes, ordering about 560,000 people to leave - although some 50,000 were allowed to return late on Tuesday.
name="map"> Also in San Diego county, a man died at the weekend after ignoring warnings to evacuate, officials say.
The emergency evoked memories of the blazes that tore through Southern California four years ago, killing 22 people and destroying more than 3,600 homes. In Orange County, officials said the number of fires had stretched resources to breaking point.
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 evacuation
Up to 10,000 evacuees stayed overnight at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, while other residents have sought shelter in schools, community centres and fairgrounds.
Satellite images show the smoke from the California wildfires being blown out to seaEnlarge Image
"I'm worried for my baby, my house, my kids, everything," Ana Ramirez, a 30-year-old pregnant woman who was taking shelter in the stadium with her four-year-old daughter, told Reuters news agency.
Ambulances and school buses were used to move hundreds of people from hospitals, nursing homes and prisons.
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders told people to "stay at home, stay off the freeways" so fire crews and evacuees could keep moving.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has asked the president to upgrade the fires to a "major disaster".
"This disaster is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capability of the state and local governments," Mr Schwarzenegger said.
The emergency evoked memories of the blazes that tore through Southern California four years ago, killing 22 people and destroying more than 3,600 homes.
MAJOR WILDFIRES Situation as of 2110 local time, 23 October 2007:1. Harris fire: 72,000 acres burned, 10% contained. 200 houses destroyed, 2,000 houses and 500 businesses under threat. One person has died and 26 injured, including 5 firefighters.2. Rice fire: 7,500 acres burned in San Diego county, 206 houses destroyed, 1,500 threatened.3. Witch fire: 196,420 acres burned in San Diego County, one percent contained. Some 500 houses and around 100 businesses destroyed. 5,000 houses under threat. Around 250,000 people evacuated across the county.4. Buckweed fire: 37,800 acres burned, 80% contained. Evacuation orders lifted in most places.5. Magic fire: 1,200 acres burned, 40% contained. Houses in Santa Clarita and Simi Valley threatened.6. Ranch fire: 47,240 acres burned, 10% contained. Local evacuation orders in place. Cost of fire so far estimated at $4.5 million7. Canyon fire: 3,800 acres consumed, 75% contained. 600 houses threatened. Mandatory evacuation orders remain in local area. Estimated cost $4.2 million8. Slide fire: 4,000 acres burned, fire uncontained. 100 houses destroyed, 4,000 threatened9. Santiago fire: 18,000 acres burned, 30% contained. Some 3,000 houses threatened. Estimated cost $1.3 million
Only fires which have consumed 1,000 acres or more are listed. Sources: Cal Fire, US National Interagency Fire CenterOnly fires which have consumed 1,000 acres or more are listed. Sources: Cal Fire, US National Interagency Fire Center
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