Calif. Fires Rage Despite Calmer Winds

Thousands More Evacuated In SoCal As Wildfires Now Burn In Five Counties

(CBS/AP)  Calmer wind Sunday aided firefighters battling wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes in Southern California, forced thousands of residents to flee and blanketed much of the region with choking smoke.

Firefighters got some welcome help from an unpredictable adversary, reports CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker. Those bedeviling Santa Ana winds died down, allowing fire crews to make progress toward containing the fires. But Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger warned there likely will be no rest for the weary firefighters.

"This isn't any more a fire season in the fall," Schwarzenegger said. "This is a fire season all year round. I think it's because of climate change or weather change. We have to be ready for it."

The fires have blackened more than 34 square miles since Thursday in parts of Los Angeles County, Riverside and Orange counties to the east, and Santa Barbara County to the northwest. More than 800 homes and apartments had been destroyed.

No deaths were reported, but police brought trained dogs Sunday morning to search the rubble of a mobile home park where some 500 homes were destroyed. They were focusing on mobile homes where cars were still parked in front.

Even areas far away from the flames were affected as poor air quality forced many people to stay indoors. Organizers canceled a marathon in Pasadena in which 8,000 runners had planned to participate.

Sunday's easing of the fierce dry Santa Ana wind allowed firefighters to set backfires in efforts to block the main fires from advancing into hillside neighborhoods.

But the numbers are daunting:

In Sylmar in Los Angeles County, the Sayre Fire, which has burned 9,480 acres so far, is only 30% contained. 630 structures were destroyed or damaged, and an additional 7,500 structures are threatened. Ten thousand people have been evacuated.

There were five injuries, including three firefighters, and five arrests for looting.

Helicopter images from CBS Station KCAL showed masses of smoke, but they were rising straight up, suggesting that winds in the area had died down a bit.

In Orange and Riverside Counties, the Triangle Complex Fire, which broke out along Riverside Freeway (91), has destroyed at least 104 residences in Anaheim, Yorba Linda, Brea and Corona, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. Between 20,000-23,000 people were evacuated. Six firefighters suffered minor injuries.

The fire has burned approximately 10,475 acres and is about 5 percent contained, according to fire officials.

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Listen to live coverage from CBS News Radio station KNX.

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In Santa Barbara County, the Tea Fire in Montecito (which is currently 75% contained) has burned 1,940 acres and destroyed 210 residences and damaged nine others. There were 22 injuries from smoke inhalation and three burn injuries.

On Saturday the mandatory evacuation orders for some areas were revised, and residents were allowed to return in unburned areas.

The cause of the Tea Fire is under investigation. Those with information about the fire are being asked to call the Sheriff’s anonymous tip hotline [phone].

"I think this has been a very tough few days for the people of Southern California," Schwarzenegger said at a morning press briefing. "I just wanted to say to our fire crews and everyone involved in the fires, 'Thank you, thank you, thank you,' for the extraordinary work they've been doing here."

Schwarzenegger also commended the cooperation between state and federal agencies, and between law enforcement and fire officials.

"When you deal with evacuations, with 10,000 people evacuated, you're talking about a lot of effort that goes into it, a lot of law enforcement people to keep the homes safe, people safe and find the shelters. They have done an extraordinary job," he said.

Schwarzenegger said that one of the lessons being learned by the weekend's spate of fires is how to deal with mobile homes, given the 500 residences that were destroyed at Oakridge Mobile Home Park.

"We should think about building the mobile homes with the same fire retardant materials we use in homes," he said. "When you talk to fire officials and chiefs, they tell you that fire ran through the mobile home park so quickly that there was no way of stopping anything there because they were like matches, and they caught fire one after the other."

"Through this emergency declaration, we want to let people know the state is with you, we're going to help to get your homes back and structures back, your lives back, and the federal government will work with you."

Growing Triangle Complex Fire Threatens San Bernardino County

The most threatening blaze had charred more than 16 square miles of Orange and Riverside counties since erupting Saturday and shooting through subdivisions entwined with wilderness parklands.

[observer2020]

Rain falls upon the just and upon the unjust. So do fires, earthquakes, tornedoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, all sorts of things. These are not God''s judgement, anymore than war, pestilence, famine and death are. These are, however, times to be agents of God''s love and mercy by trying to help the afflicted.
Posted by violist47

Well said violist47! Much better than the epitome of the Christian "gop" poster. We ALL need to help out however we can; money always helps but is difficult for most of us right now to find "extra" cash. But sending prayers and good thoughts costs nothing and does help. Not like the dark clouds that gop_will_Win keeps sending to those that don''t think exactly like it does. Open your mind and heart and good things will come your way.

[myopinion381]

God is still angry with the sinner liberals and will continue the fires until sufficient prayer has been done. Posted by gop_will_Win at 08:38 AM

Considering a major portion of the homes that have been lost so far were in a retirement area, how do you figure those people have sinned?

[gop_will_win]

God is still angry with the sinner liberals and will continue the fires until sufficient prayer has been done.

[wl7bzh]

Everyone creates an environment where good and bad things can happen, but the purpose of the environment is to produce based upon the wills and charactar of those who are in it.

Posted by pensacola98 at 10:55 AM : Nov 16, 2008

Huh? this makes no sense. Suggest you quit walking down the middle of Hwy 98.

[frankinaz]

I lived in California for 22 years, and unfortunately, fires, earthquakes, landslides, and other hazards are the price for living in a nice climate with an ocean nearby. Although I feel sorry for those who lost loved ones and property in these wildfires, people chose to build and live in areas where there are inherent hazards, and some of these these hazards are natural and occur in cycles. May those affected all recover from their suffering and losses.

[petro49l]

FEMA must grant money to the State of California for the purchases of vehicles, aircraft, equipment, supplies (chemicals for fires), and planning funds. The tax money should prevent forest fire by containing the problem. FEMA and the Department of the Interior should place fire breaks throughout the State. If not, wild forest fires will destroy the natural beauty.

[violist47]

Rain falls upon the just and upon the unjust. So do fires, earthquakes, tornedoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, all sorts of things. These are not God''s judgement,anymore than war, pestilence, famine and death are. These are, however, times to be agents of God''s love and mercy by trying to help the afflicted.

[manstantrust]

Just pray, folks, pray, pray and pray again and do penance. Advent starts November 29, right after thanksgiving. Show your gratefulness by refraining from sin and from totally ignoring his teachings. Listen to the Holy Spirit that was given into you when you were first created in your mothers womb, renounce the evil mind that dictates rebellion.
May God bless our country and nation with His Grace and Mercy.

[musethalia]

Too bad there isn''''t a way to replace those houses as well as the houses that get blown away by hurricanes and tornadoes with houses being demolished in other parts of the country. Can''''t someone dismantle unwanted houses and send them to devastated areas for people to rebuild? Wouldn''''t it be great if something like that existed? It does. The Benefactor Project

Posted by bladdy10

Habitat for Humanity is an awesome organization similar to what you''re speaking of - Donations (extra construction supplies, furniture, cabinets, flooring etc and can be purchased by the public at a discount rate - and they are just that - non-profit donations, & obviously a tax credit for those who donate) the proceeds are used to assist people - I believe there are strict situational background checks (so to speak) done to weed out those looking for a free ride, and then they build homes for those in dire need (i.e. the person who has had tradgety strike, like paralys from a wreck, was the bread winner, lived in a multi-story home that''s no longer functional, etc) and then gives them the deed and keys to a one story w/ handicap accessories. It''s awesome.

[musethalia]

No, the liberals are just poking fun at the Christian fundamentalists that always claim it was an act of God''''s judgment against some unchristian thing.

Posted by mtminds

you forgot the word ''extreme''. Not every Christian believes there''s a catastrophic event due to someone''s act of being ''un-Christian - sometimes people are just stupid, do stupid things and it leads to a bad outcome for a lot of others. Why does religion have to be brought in to everything???

[mtminds]

No, the liberals are just poking fun at the Christian fundamentalists that always claim it was an act of God''s judgment against some unchristian thing.

[httpwwwnews]

Most of the recent So Cal fires are from human activity; downed power lines in high winds, camp fires that get away, catalytic converter sparks, etc. The biggest cause of fires is arsonists and thieves. The arsonists start um then sit back getting their sick thrills watching. The thieves sneak in and loot houses after the residents are evacuated before the fires take the homes.

[sensiblejack]

Liberals are the worst haters on the planet...they hide behind shrieks and wails ( their chosen method of self expression) espousing tolerance.....what they really mean is tolerance of views similar to their own.

If you have a view that differs from theirsw...watch out the hate filled speech will fly ( and be dutifully ignored by the media

[ardiva1]

Wish I could just wiggle my nose and get everything back to the way it was before the fire.

Blessings to all in Calif.

[rushlimbaug4]

In some religions, the voice saying "God Punished You or Them" , is said to actually be the voice of Satan.

Posted by pensacola98 at 10:55 AM : Nov 16, 2008

It is obvious you have not read the Old Testament, but I will give you a free pass since you have been such a loyal listener in the past.

These fires will surgically strike sinners. Any Questions!!!$$??

[pensacola98]

Fire ? Flood ? Hurricane ? Acts of God ?

The results of God''s effort have no connections to God''s intentions.

Everyone creates an environment where good and bad things can happen, but the purpose of the environment is to produce based upon the wills and charactar of those who are in it.

God''s creation is no different.

Every creation or environment offers relationship and conditions.

Each of us has the choice what type of relationship to have in this situation. I choose not to condemn my brothers in southern California, but instead to offer aid and encouragement.

In some religions, the voice saying "God Punished You or Them" , is said to actually be the voice of Satan.

[czmdm]

Having lived through Hurricane Wilma on Cozumel Island I have seen first hand the tragedy of total loss of property. Things of course, can be replaced, but the memories they hold cannot.

My families heart goes out to all you folks in trouble out there. Stay safe and try to remember it will get better.


_____________________________________________________

Obviously these terrible fires in California are a sure sign of God''''s wrath on Californians for their denying homosexuals their due rights as citizens and taxpayers.---n8yvn29

n8yvn29 you are a pathetic dolt with no human qualities or values. What is wrong with you hateful people who laugh or make political jokes about the misfortune of people? What is your country coming to that everytime something horrid happens half of the bloggers take delight in watching others suffer? It is shameful.

[bladdy10]

Too bad there isn''t a way to replace those houses as well as the houses that get blown away by hurricanes and tornadoes with houses being demolished in other parts of the country. Can''t someone dismantle unwanted houses and send them to devastated areas for people to rebuild? Wouldn''t it be great if something like that existed? It does. The Benefactor Project

[blackyowe]

We are keeping you in our prayers California! Our hearts ache for you in this time of crisis!