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California wildfires wreak havoc California wildfires wreak havoc
(about 2 hours later)
Three separate wildfires in southern California have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee the fast-moving flames. Firefighters in southern California continue to battle three separate wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to flee.
The fires, to the north, north-west and south of Los Angeles have burnt through dry brush and forest in the suburban canyonlands around the city. The fires, to the north, north-west and south of Los Angeles have burnt through dry forest, hitting suburban areas.
California's governor has declared states of emergency in Orange, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger praised the quick response of the firefighters.
A drop in the wind force has given some relief to the hard-pressed fire crews. States of emergency were in place in four counties but calmer winds were helping fire crews contain the blazes.
The largest of the fires is in the northern Los Angeles suburb of Sylmar, up against the canyons of the Angeles National Forest. More than 800 homes, ranging from multi-million dollar mansions to more modest mobile homes have been destroyed.
About 22,000 acres (8,900 acres) have been scorched and 50,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes from Santa Barbara, north-west of Los Angeles, to the suburbs in the south-east of the city.
See map of the California fires See map of the California fires
Ten-thousand people were ordered to evacuate their homes as the flames raced through the Oakridge Mobile Home Park late on Friday, destroying about 500 of the structures. The worst of the fires is now to the south-east of Los Angeles in Orange and Riverside counties.
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 It broke out early on Saturday and quickly spread through a number of suburban communities running up into the canyons of Chino Hills State Park.
"We have never lost in recent times anything close to this number [of homes]," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Firefighters were braving 50ft flame lengths as they swept across the mobile homes Los Angeles Fire Captain Steve Ruda class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7732389.stm">Wildfire eyewitness: 'Hell on earth' class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7731706.stm">In pictures: Los Angeles wildfire
He blamed the spread of the fire on "absolutely atrocious" winds of up to 80 mph (130 km/h) that pushed the fire out of the forests and into the suburbs, jumping wide highways in the process. Initially separate blazes have merged into what fire officials are calling the Triangle Complex fire. As of Sunday morning, it was mostly uncontained and had burnt through more than 10,000 acres (4,000 hectares).
About 1,200 firefighters are trying to contain the blaze which has already damaged or destroyed 150 homes, many of them in Yorba Linda.
Fierce winds of up to 80 mph (130 km/h) initially fanned the blaze, helping the flames jump canyons and spread into built-up areas.
Fire crews are expected to get some relief on Sunday as winds drop to between 25-45mph (40-72 km/h).
'Perfect storm'
Gov Schwarzenegger said states of emergency had been declared in Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties.
The declaration allows state resources to be used to help local crews fight the fires and shelter people who have evacuated their homes.
He praised firefighters who have been fighting a "perfect storm" for the last three days.
Firefighters are hoping for relief from calmer winds
"With all these fires all over, this is usually what happens at this time of the year, when we have the perfect storm, which means basically we have high winds, high temperatures and very, very dry [conditions]".
He said another serious fire, centred on Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley, was 30% contained.
That fire broke out very late on Friday and forced 10,000 people to evacuate their homes. He said 9,400 acres (3,800 hectares) had been burnt and 630 buildings destroyed - included about 500 mobile homes that were completely incinerated.
Pillars of smoke
The fire jumped into the Oakridge Mobile Home Park from the adjacent Angeles National Park in the early hours of Saturday and raced from one mobile home to the other.
"It was an absolute firestorm," said Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Steve Ruda of the Oakridge blaze."It was an absolute firestorm," said Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Steve Ruda of the Oakridge blaze.
"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."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.
The Sylmar fire has burnt through 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares) since it broke out late on Friday. Fire officials said it was 20% contained as of late Saturday. "We have never lost in recent times anything close to this number [of homes]," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
About 2,000 firefighters are using aircraft, helicopters and bulldozers to beat the flames back from populated areas. California fires 'emergency'
Pillars of smoke Mr Schwarzenegger said 1,031 firefighters, 211 fire engines, 12 helicopters and 15 bulldozers were working to keep the flames away from the built-up areas.
Meanwhile, more than 12,000 people were ordered to leave their homes in Orange County, in the south of the Los Angeles urban sprawl, as another fire flared up early on Saturday in the communities of Yorba Linda and Corona.
That fire has so far scorched 2,000 acres (800 hectares) and damaged or destroyed about 100 homes or other buildings.
Fire officials said the blaze was 5% contained.
The two fires have sent pillars of smoke into the air that can be seen across the Los Angeles area.The two fires have sent pillars of smoke into the air that can be seen across the Los Angeles area.
Television pictures showed entire hillsides ablaze and burning embers flying through the air, pushed by the high winds.Television pictures showed entire hillsides ablaze and burning embers flying through the air, pushed by the high winds.
"When you walk around the areas that were devastated, it looked like hell today," Gov Schwarzenegger told a news conference on Saturday.
California fires 'emergency'
At least 11 injuries have been reported in the two Los Angeles fires, including nine firefighters.At least 11 injuries have been reported in the two Los Angeles fires, including nine firefighters.
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.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.
Mr Bratton said rescue crews would have to wait for the ground to cool before bringing in search dogs to find any victims.Mr Bratton said rescue crews would have to wait for the ground to cool before bringing in search dogs to find any victims.
Mansions burnt
A fire burning since Thursday in Santa Barbara, on the Pacific coast about 90 miles (144km) north-west of Los Angeles, has been 40% contained, firefighters said.A fire burning since Thursday in Santa Barbara, on the Pacific coast about 90 miles (144km) north-west of Los Angeles, has been 40% contained, firefighters said.
Santa Barbara County spokesman William Boyer said 106 homes had been burnt in the city of Santa Barbara and another 77 in the adjacent community of Montecito - home to many wealthy celebrities.Santa Barbara County spokesman William Boyer said 106 homes had been burnt in the city of Santa Barbara and another 77 in the adjacent community of Montecito - home to many wealthy celebrities.
Multi-million dollar homes have been turned into smouldering piles of rubble surrounded by a grey, ash-coated landscape in the secluded area that is home to celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Michael Douglas.Multi-million dollar homes have been turned into smouldering piles of rubble surrounded by a grey, ash-coated landscape in the secluded area that is home to celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Michael Douglas.
Mr Boyer said about 1,500 acres of land had been scorched. At least 13 people have been treated for burns or smoke inhalation.Mr Boyer said about 1,500 acres of land had been scorched. At least 13 people have been treated for burns or smoke inhalation.
Calmer winds on Sunday have given some relief to fire crews in all three areas. Wind speeds of about 25-45 mph (40-72 km/h) were reported.
Such wildfires are an annual feature in southern California, but many officials say this year's have been the worst in decades.Such wildfires are an annual feature in southern California, but many officials say this year's have been the worst in decades.
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