SoCal Firefighters: "We Can't Stop It"

Officials Say If 100-MPH Gusts Continue, "The Beast" Won't Stop Until It Reaches The Pacific

(CBS/AP)  It's a fight to the death with what firefighters call "the beast."

And right now "the beast" is winning, reports CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric.

Faced with unrelenting winds whipping wildfires into a frenzy across Southern California, firefighters all but conceded defeat Tuesday to an unstoppable force that has chased more than 500,000 people from their homes.

Unless the shrieking Santa Ana winds subside, and that's not expected for at least another day, fire crews say they can do little more than try to wait it out and react -- tamping out spot fires and chasing ribbons of airborne embers to keep new fires from flaring.

“If it's this big and blowing with as much wind as it's got, it'll go all the way to the ocean before it stops,” said San Diego Fire Capt. Kirk Humphries. “We can save some stuff but we can't stop it.”

Smaller fires are merging to form giant infernos, creating pillars of smoke that can be seen from space, reports Couric.

Tentacles of unpredictable, shifting flame have burned across nearly 600 square miles, killing two people, destroying more than 1,600 homes and prompting the biggest evacuation in California history, from north of Los Angeles, through San Diego to the Mexican border.

Triple digit heat is pushing the 6,000 firefighters to their limits. Some of these men and women have been at it now for 36 hours straight, as modified airliners skim the hilltops to drop mile-long lines of flame-retardant chemicals, reports Couric.

“When they drop retardant, when they drop water, it’s literally turning to mist,” because the winds are so strong it dissipates, said Matt Streck of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The 70-mile-per-hour Santa Ana winds make it nearly impossible to predict where the fire will go next. Just as crews prepare to make a stand, they get outflanked by embers that hop the lines and explode into new fires.

“You won’t see a Santa Ana fire come down on you until it’s too late,” said Streck.

President Bush, whose administration was criticized for its handling of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, declared a federal emergency for seven counties, a move that will speed disaster-relief efforts. He also planned a visit to the region Thursday, and the Pentagon said it has sent troops and equipment.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said the flames were threatening 68,000 more homes.

“We have had an unfortunate situation that we've had three things come together: very dry areas, very hot weather and then a lot of wind,” Schwarzenegger said. “And so this makes the perfect storm for a fire.”

The fires also affected some of California's celebrity residents, threatening the oceanfront town of Malibu where many stars like Mel Gibson, Cher, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Aniston, Mel Brooks, Ryan O'Neal and others have homes.

In Rancho Santa Fe, a suburb north of San Diego, houses burned just yards from where fire crews fought to contain flames engulfing other properties. In the mountain community of Lake Arrowhead, cabins and vacation homes went up in flames with no fire crews in sight.

More than a dozen wildfires blowing across Southern California since Sunday have also injured more than 45 people, including 21 firefighters.

Los Angeles County's Santa Clarita residents fought all night to save their homes, reports CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker.

“It was my home for 40 years and now it’s gone,” said one resident.

The U.S. Forest Service earlier reported a fire death in Santa Clarita, but officials said Tuesday that information was erroneous. The one confirmed death occurred over the weekend, authorities said, and the person has been identified as Thomas Varshock, who died after he ignored warnings to evacuate and authorities left to take care of other evacuations, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said.

Besides Varshock, the San Diego medical examiner's officer listed four deaths as connected to the wildfires. Three were people in their 90s who died from natural causes; the fourth was a woman who died after falling at a restaurant.

All are considered fire-connected deaths because they occurred during or after evacuations.

A dozen firefighters battling blazes in Orange County had to deploy emergency shelters, a last resort when they are surrounded by flames.

Orange County's fire chief angrily declared it didn't have to happen, reports CBS News correspondent John Blackstone.

“It’s an absolute fact that had we more air resources we would have been able to control this fire,” said Orange County Fire Authority Chief Chip Prather.

[trenticus-2009]

Posted by speakinup: I can''''t hear you trenticus - your actions speak much louder than your words.

And what actions would that be??? You think I am going to go fight a fire? You think I am going to waste my money flying out to a place I can''t get in to just to hand out diapers and water? What actions? You say so much while saying NOTHING at all!

[speakinup]

"Why are there so many people talking out their a$$e$ when their mouths know better? Posted by trenticus

I can''t hear you trenticus - your actions speak much louder than your words.

[trenticus-2009]

Why are there so many people talking out their a$$e$ when their mouths know better????

[trenticus-2009]

Do you know the number of California National Guard that are in Iraq ? 2,000

Now, my math is a little rusty, but I believe that still leaves 17,000 people. BTW - I don''''t think they sent ANY aircraft that would have been used to fight fires.

So quit being such a liar - leave that to the politicians, ok.
Posted by speakinup

DUDE!??? See how you are??? I am speaking on a whole. If the Californians can F^U^C^K^ this fire to death then so be it! Don''t sit and cry as to why the nations MILITARY won''t come running! We are taxed as a military... Moron!

[speakinup]

"Where are all the military personell that can help fight this thing??? OOOOPS!! Forgot, they are tied up at the moment in IRAQ! Posted by trenticus

So, trenticus, do you know the total number of National Guard there is in California ? 19,000.

Do you know the number of California National Guard that are in Iraq ? 2,000

Now, my math is a little rusty, but I believe that still leaves 17,000 people. BTW - I don''t think they sent ANY aircraft that would have been used to fight fires.

So quit being such a liar - leave that to the politicians, ok.

[trenticus-2009]

Silly Twixcon - if you knew anything of the real stats, you''''d know it''''s all the other states getting a handout from California. We pay a ton more in tax dollars than we get in benefits - like most blue states. You may not like the truth there, but it is a fact.
Posted by SusanHelit

Susan, Dear.... California is SO broke because of all the illegal immigrants in your state. California DOES NOT pay anything to other states for their people to live. California cannot even afford a flour tortilla! If it is so taxing on you why don''t you move??? Do you enjoy shakey-town that much? How about fire storms? Wind damage? Smog? Smoke? Rude people? Flash-trends? Bad drivers? Lousy attitudes??? Come on! Get a grip, quit whinning and move yer a$$ to another state!

[susanhelit]

Silly Twixcon - if you knew anything of the real stats, you''d know it''s all the other states getting a handout from California. We pay a ton more in tax dollars than we get in benefits - like most blue states. You may not like the truth there, but it is a fact.

[trenticus-2009]

Posted by Nsenior08: We need to know what they are doing to the fire and not where the SD Chargers are practicing!!!! Get something about their homes on the news and help these people out.

DUDE! The press can''t show you every house for every victim. Right now you are all victims! Grab your mic and camera and get out there and report it if you can get near the carnage! Oh by the way the SD Chargers are practicing in Arizona for the moment... Just an FYI...

[trenticus-2009]

Where are all the military personell that can help fight this thing??? OOOOPS!! Forgot, they are tied up at the moment in IRAQ!

[twixcon]

Nobody is dissing Californians, or their questionable decisions to live in areas susceptible to natural disaster. What people have a right to be upset with is the way that Calis always come running for a handout when the predictable disasters occur.

If you want to live on mud cliffs, or in forests prone to fire or on earthquake prone fault lines, fine. Buy your own insurance and accept the consequences. Don''t come to the government and by extension the taxpayers like a bunch of whining babies.

I kkow that it is tough for liberal Californians who are used to looking at the world through rose colored glasses to accept. But face it, you ignored reality and it bit you on the butt. Now shut up and live with it.

Would you please, be kind as to inform us the conditions of Reche Road in Fallbrook? we heard from all the other areas, yet not Fallbrook, We are praying for the rest of the californian being hurt by this furious fire and we hope we can all find some relief and lots of patience. Please do inform us. God Bless this Nation, God Bless all the Firemen out there.....

[nsenior08]

I am a senior at chaparral high school in Temecula, CA, our school as well as Temecula Valley are shelters for those who had to evacuate from their homes in Fallbrook. Watching the news for hours and hours and not seeing anything being covered on their home is infuriating!!! People need to know what is happeneing and not everyone has access to the internet. We need to know what they are doing to the fire and not where the SD Chargers are practicing!!!! Get something about their homes on the news and help these people out.

[spaspy]

There were ordinary peoples'' homes burnt too, not just the wealthys'' homes you morons! One of them was my cousins. I read these comments and it shames me to think that people have so much disdain and hatred in their hearts, and jealousy that overtakes their ability to feel compassion. Narrow minded people!

[nottellin1]

I cannot tell you how proud I am to be a native Californian today.

[nottellin1]

Its an absolute fact that had we more air resources we would have been able to control this fire"

Too bad the National Guard is off somewhere "guarding" another nation!

Thanks, Mr. Bush for putting America first!

This is another ignorant statement, we had plenty of air resources, it''s California after all. The winds kept air resources on the ground.

[nottellin1]

Now... President Bush is asking for $46Billion fund for the war... How in the world would he be able to assist the Southern CA?! He is just bringing our $1.00 bill value down way deep in the hole like maybe, $5,000 value for each $1.00 bill we have.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by stratching at 07:36 AM : Oct 24, 2007

Quite obviously CA doesn''t need federal assistance, we take care of our own. Try looking at local CA news reports, we are doing quite nicely without the Fed and wish they would stop trying to take credit for doing nothing. Sadly, Feinstein & Boxer are the worst. I just heard Feinstein suggesting that we should zone so that houses can''t be built in fire prone hillsides, good grief she is clueless. Those of us that live in those areas are prepared and insured. Bush is on CNN right now, saying the Fed will send anything that is needed, thanks anyway, keep FEMA away and stop sdtealing the credit that should belong to ordinary Californians.

[brianbwb-2009]

Sorry. The phrase "concrete jungle" made me think you were referring to Hollywood as in "Movieland."
Posted by Iceman_1960

In fact, the landmark known as the Ranch Market, a semi open air supermarket, and snack stand stayed open 24 hours for more than half a century, was gutted by fire during the condo conversion process. Some of us saw suspicious people lurking behind the market the night of the fire, which finalized the end of the artists community, as the owner had no choice but sell out, and the demolition of the area began. a tragic end to what used to be a good place to live and create.

That is why I am inclined to believe some of the "victims" may have set fires themselves, to get out of balloon mortgages, or stave off bankruptcy. This was a rather common practice there, and the time of year, with predictable Santa Ana conditions would ensure no investigations by the insurance companies.

It just got out of control. One shouldn''t try to mess with Mother Nature...

[radiob-2009]

I forgot Osama Bin Laden makes a "guest" appearance as the Creation.

[radiob-2009]

New York Times


A new production of the musical "The Rocky Picture Horror Show" is tentatively scheduled to run on Broadway beginninng in December 1st. The film is considered a cult classic and a midnight movie %u2014 although it is widely known by mainstream audiences. It has a large national and international following. While the film''s popularity is high, critics point to the lack of plot and cartoonish style as well as the overly sexual nature of the film as some of its major drawbacks. Regardless, the movie has gone on to become one of the most well known and financially successful midnight movies of all time. It is the longest running theatrical release in film history. The new production includes a cast of America''s best known actors and some lesser known figures. The cast will have Rudy Giullani as Dr. Frank N Furter, Hillary Clinton as Janet Weiss, Mitt Rommney as Eddie, John Edwards as Riff Raff, Barack Obama as Brad Majors, Ron Paul as The Criminologist, and Fred Thompson as Columbia.

[iceman_1960]

"I meant Hollywood, the city, not the general area. The city is but a small square on the LA map, just beneath the Hollywood sign."
- Posted by brianbwb at 08:41 AM : Oct 24, 2007

Sorry. The phrase "concrete jungle" made me think you were referring to Hollywood as in "Movieland."