Wildfires spreads all over Southern California on Saturday, reducing 500 mobile homes to cinders and forcing thousands of homeowners and even firefighters to flee as flames as high as 50 feet licked at their heels.
The Sayre Fire, the worst of the blazes, raced through Sylmar, a San Fernando Valley town on the edge of the Angeles National Forest, forcing the evacuation of 10,000 people and shutting down major freeways including Interstate 5.
Chaotic, gusting winds fanned wildfires all over Southern California on Saturday, reducing 500 mobile homes to cinders and forcing thousands of homeowners and even firefighters to flee as flames as high as 50 feet licked at their heels.
The Sayre Fire, the worst of the blazes, raced through Sylmar, a San Fernando Valley town on the edge of the Angeles National Forest, forcing the evacuation of 10,000 people and shutting down major freeways including Interstate 5.
But that was just the beginning. By day’s end, the Freeway Fire in Orange and Riverside counties was burning out of control, destroying more homes.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters were racing early Friday to push back a wind-whipped wildfire that destroyed about 80 homes and a college dormitory, injured four people and forced thousands to flee the longtime celebrity hideaway of Montecito.
The fire broke out just before 6 p.m. Thursday and spread to about 2,000 acres — more than 3 square miles — within hours, destroying dozens of luxury homes and parts of a college campus in the foothills of Montecito, just southeast of Santa Barbara. About 5,400 of the tony community’s 14,000 residents were evacuated and more could be forced to flee if the fire spreads, said Terri Nisich, a spokeswoman with the Santa Barbara County Executive Office.
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Calm winds brought relief to beleaguered firefighters and homeowners Wednesday, but flames from one of two Los Angeles-area wildfires still edged dangerously close to neighborhoods in the northwestern suburbs and Ventura County.
Fire crews unleashed loads of water on hot spots of the 13,285-acre blaze, which has charred slopes above the San Fernando Valley communities of Porter Ranch and Granada Hills. Flames also pushed west and threatened homes in the Ventura County city of Simi Valley.
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — Officials are close to lifting the evacuation orders for thousands of people that fled raging wildfires that have torched more than 20,000 acres of Southern California terrain, Los Angeles mayor said Tuesday.
“It is imminent. We can’t give you an hour now, but we are close to lifting the order,” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at Tuesday evening news conference.
• Two major fires — the Marek and Sesnon blazes — have burned more than 18,000 acres in the hills and mountains north of Los Angeles.
Two huge wildfires driven by strong Santa Ana winds burned into neighbourhoods near Los Angeles, forcing frantic evacuations on smoke- and traffic-choked highways, destroying homes and causing at least two deaths.
Around sunset, residents were warned to stay on alert as winds of more than 60 mph were forecast. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
More than 1,000 firefighters and nine water-dropping aircraft battled the 4,700-acre Marek Fire at the northeast end of the San Fernando Valley, and the 5,000-acre Sesnon Fire at the west end.
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif.—More than 1,300 firefighters are trying to contain a wildfire that has burned nearly 12,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest along California coast.
Fire officials say the 19-square-mile blaze burning about 20 miles south of King City in Monterey County was 22 percent Saturday. Full containment is not expected until mid-October.
MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) _ Officials say at least 89 people have died in wildfires sweeping through Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland.
The Mozambique government says that 49 people have died in central Mozambique and the toll may rise further. The fires claimed more than 40 lives in South Africa and Swaziland.
