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| Bush declares major fire disaster | Bush declares major fire disaster |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US President George W Bush has declared California a major disaster after four days of wildfires sparked the biggest US evacuation since Hurricane Katrina. | US President George W Bush has declared California a major disaster after four days of wildfires sparked the biggest US evacuation since Hurricane Katrina. |
| The fires left three dead, burned 1,500 homes and are threatening 68,000 more, causing more than $1bn in damages. | |
| More than 500,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as fierce winds fan fast-moving fires that have ravaged land from Santa Barbara to Mexico. | More than 500,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as fierce winds fan fast-moving fires that have ravaged land from Santa Barbara to Mexico. |
| Forecasters predict winds to weaken, easing conditions for firefighters. | Forecasters predict winds to weaken, easing conditions for firefighters. |
| Federal aid | Federal aid |
| Mr Bush's disaster declaration will free long-term federal funding to help governments, families and individuals recover from the devastation wrought by the blazes - 16 of which are still burning. | |
| Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Bush declared a state of emergency in seven California counties. He will visit the state on Thursday. | Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Bush declared a state of emergency in seven California counties. He will visit the state on Thursday. |
| TACKLING THE FLAMES 8,000 firefighters - including a number of prison teams1,500 national guards50 helicopters55 firefighting planes Source: Office of Emergency Services Battling the inferno Readers' experiences Are you affected? | TACKLING THE FLAMES 8,000 firefighters - including a number of prison teams1,500 national guards50 helicopters55 firefighting planes Source: Office of Emergency Services Battling the inferno Readers' experiences Are you affected? |
| "I will continue to make sure that our efforts are co-ordinated, and that we are responsive to the needs of people... we offer our prayers and hopes that all will turn out fine in the end," Mr Bush said. | "I will continue to make sure that our efforts are co-ordinated, and that we are responsive to the needs of people... we offer our prayers and hopes that all will turn out fine in the end," Mr Bush said. |
| The head of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (Fema), David Paulison, said the government had learnt its lesson after it was accused of a sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast two years ago. | The head of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (Fema), David Paulison, said the government had learnt its lesson after it was accused of a sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast two years ago. |
| "What we see now that we did not see during Hurricane Katrina is a very good team effort from the local, the state and the federal government and across the federal agencies," Mr Paulison said. | "What we see now that we did not see during Hurricane Katrina is a very good team effort from the local, the state and the federal government and across the federal agencies," Mr Paulison said. |
| More than 400,000 acres (162,000 hectares) of land have been scorched - an area bigger than New York City. | |
| Forestry officials say the seasonal Santa Ana winds are hampering their efforts to contain fires raging across the state, and high wind warnings are in effect for most of the region until Wednesday afternoon. | |
| At least 38 people have been injured in addition to the three confirmed deaths, a spokesman for California's Office of Emergency Services (OES) told the BBC. | At least 38 people have been injured in addition to the three confirmed deaths, a spokesman for California's Office of Emergency Services (OES) told the BBC. |
| Detailed maps of the fires Paradise lost in California In pictures: California fires | Detailed maps of the fires Paradise lost in California In pictures: California fires |
| In San Diego County, which has been hardest hit and where five blazes are still burning, the bill just from damage to homes will top $1bn (£500m), said San Diego County emergency services director Ron Lane. | In San Diego County, which has been hardest hit and where five blazes are still burning, the bill just from damage to homes will top $1bn (£500m), said San Diego County emergency services director Ron Lane. |
| Firefighters there have been working in difficult conditions, with winds up to 70mph. | Firefighters there have been working in difficult conditions, with winds up 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, on to their back yards, starting those things on fire," spokesman Maurice Luque told the BBC. | "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, on to their back yards, starting those things on fire," spokesman Maurice Luque told the BBC. |
| 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." |
| Major evacuation | Major evacuation |
| 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. | 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. |
| Satellite image shows the smoke from the California wildfires being blown out to seaEnlarge Image | Satellite image shows the smoke from the California wildfires being blown out to seaEnlarge Image |
| In Orange County, officials said the number of fires had stretched resources to breaking point. | In Orange County, officials said the number of fires had stretched resources to breaking point. |
| More than 10,000 evacuees stayed overnight at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, while other residents sought shelter in schools, community centres and fairgrounds. | More than 10,000 evacuees stayed overnight at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, while other residents sought shelter in schools, community centres and fairgrounds. |
| "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. | "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 moved hundreds of people from hospitals, nursing homes and prisons. | Ambulances and school buses moved hundreds of people from hospitals, nursing homes and prisons. |
| Have you been caught up in events? Are you in the area? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below. | Have you been caught up in events? Are you in the area? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial + 44 (0) 7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial + 44 (0) 7725 100 100. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
| Name | Name |