More evacuations and new fires
Blazes erupt on the La Jolla Indian Reservation in San Diego County and in the Newhall Pass area. The weather isn't helping firefighters.
A new day brought more evacuations and blazes as weary firefighters faced rising temperatures and fierce winds this morning that were expected to complicate their efforts to tame an outbreak of Southern California wildfires.
The latest blazes included a house fire on the La Jolla Indian Reservation that spread to surrounding San Diego countryside and consumed 400 acres. The fire was heading up the east side of Palomar Mountain.
Another fire broke out in the Newhall Pass area, according to Inspector Ron Haralson of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Perhaps a dozen acres were consumed, he said. Called the Meadow Ridge Fire, the blaze started about 4 a.m. near where Highway 14 meets Interstate 5. It was one of four fires in Los Angeles County, Inspector Sam Padilla said.
Both roads were backed up. The Sierra Highway heading east was closed.
The latest blazes were just sparks compared to conflagrations that have plagued seven counties since the weekend. Responding to state pleas, President Bush this morning declared a state of emergency, opening the way for federal aid.
The tally of destruction was a grim reminder of the danger brought every year when the Santa Ana winds begin to blow. This year is expected to be especially bad since record rainfall, followed by drought, has turned the ample brush into tinder.
Fed by the gale-force winds, fires have consumed about 270,000 acres, more than 420 square miles, across seven counties. Hundreds of thousands of people have sought refuge from the fires.
San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chairman Ron Roberts said this morning that an estimated 1,000 homes had been lost there.
The Santiago Fire forced Orange County to order an additional 3,000 residents to evacuate, said Christy Romero, a spokeswoman for Orange County Fire Department. About 870 homes are threatened in the canyon areas including Modjeska Canyon, Silverado Canyon, Williams Canyon, Santiago Canyon at Hangman's Tree, and Joplin Boys Ranch, officials said this morning.
The fire has burned through about 15,800 acres and is 30% contained with more than 500 firefighters working the blaze, Romero said. She said two helicopters were dropping water this morning. No structures have been damaged.
Four firefighters suffered minor injuries, she said.
