Fires Southern California

Two recent house fires in Southern California were caused by faulty attic furnaces manufactured by now-bankrupt Consolidated Industries, firefighters say. The blazes raise the concern that many of the 140,000 Californians who own Consolidated furnaces are still unaware of the danger they pose. The furnaces were sold under at least 30 brand names in the state from 1984 to 1992. The U.S.

Public utility investigators are recommending $99 million in fines against Southern California Edison and four telecommunication companies for allegedly overloading power poles that collapsed and sparked a wildfire in Malibu Canyon. The California Public Utilities Commission's Consumer Protection and Safety Division said in a filing Friday that Edison destroyed evidence and misled investigators about the cause of the Oct. 21, 2007, blaze, which destroyed 14 structures and 36 vehicles.

The status of major fires in Southern California: 1) SANTA BARBARA (INCLUDING GOLETA AND MONTECITO): Santa Barbara County Status: Began Wednesday afternoon, still burning. Damage: $190 million Acres burned: 4,000 Homes destroyed: 567 Injuries: 40 Firefighters and equipment deployed: 800 firefighters; 62 engines, two bulldozers, one helicopter and three air tankers. Cause: Arson suspected. 2) GLENDALE: Los Angeles County Status: Began Wednesday afternoon, contained by 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Two recent house fires in Southern California were caused by faulty attic furnaces manufactured by now-bankrupt Consolidated Industries, firefighters say. The blazes raise the concern that many of the 140,000 Californians who own Consolidated furnaces are still unaware of the danger they pose. The furnaces were sold under at least 30 brand names in the state from 1984 to 1992. The U.S.

Firefighters were battling a fire in the Angeles National Forest on Sunday as other crews across Southern California mopped up hot spots around the region. A 50-acre blaze in Sycamore Canyon near San Dimas threatened homes, but no evacuations were ordered, said a Los Angeles County fire dispatcher. About 200 firefighters worked to contain the fire.

Six firefighters were hurt Tuesday as wildfires roared for a second day across Malibu and parts of San Diego County, and officials declared that the most devastating of the blazes was of "suspicious" origin. Fire crews were scrambling to expand their partial containment of the two largest in a series of brush fires that swept across Southern California--hoping to work faster than the Santa Ana winds that were forecast to intensify later in the week.

The so-called Monster House of Visalia burned to the ground Monday, prompting an attorney for the owner to charge that the giant structure was destroyed by "the politics of envy." "In my humble view, someone couldn't stand the thought of this man having his dream house," said Merl Ledford, who represents Gilbert Marroquin. "It's blatant racism."

Each time a Southern California neighborhood is ravaged by a wildfire, state and local building departments go to work, reviewing and tweaking codes that govern what kinds of roofs can be built atop homes. A new model building code now being developed demands that new homes and reroofing projects in fire-prone neighborhoods use roofing materials rated Class A--the highest fire resistance grade given to materials, those deemed "not readily flammable."

President Clinton asked Congress on Monday to spend another $4.9 billion in emergency funds to repair the destruction that remains from the Northridge earthquake, warning that the federal government will have to shut off further relief if the money is not approved by May.

For several days recently, Fire Station 43 has had five bright red fire engines parked at its front curb, instead of the usual single engine. Its employee lounge has been host to 17 firefighters instead of the familiar three. And the days have been filled with the bustling footsteps of hulking figures in heavy helmets dragging endless hoses to and fro. They have been practicing for an event that they hope will never arrive.

The so-called Monster House of Visalia burned to the ground Monday, prompting an attorney for the owner to charge that the giant structure was destroyed by "the politics of envy." "In my humble view, someone couldn't stand the thought of this man having his dream house," said Merl Ledford, who represents Gilbert Marroquin. "It's blatant racism."

Despite a fire that has burned more than 13,100 acres since Thursday, this popular draw for hikers and rock climbers will remain open today. As of Sunday night, the fire in the northwestern part of the park was 70% contained, authorities said. Firefighters expected to completely contain the blaze, the largest of four lightning-sparked fires that have plagued the park, by Tuesday evening, according to Judy Behrens, information officer for the U.S. Forest Service.

More than 300 firefighters and three water-dropping helicopters battled two lightning-caused wildfires crackling across a remote section of Joshua Tree National Park on Friday. A 2,000-acre fire in the rugged Covington Flats area showed little movement Friday. Another blaze a mile away had flared up to about 1,000 acres by evening, authorities said. Most of the park was expected to be open for the Memorial Day weekend.

Firefighters were battling a fire in the Angeles National Forest on Sunday as other crews across Southern California mopped up hot spots around the region. A 50-acre blaze in Sycamore Canyon near San Dimas threatened homes, but no evacuations were ordered, said a Los Angeles County fire dispatcher. About 200 firefighters worked to contain the fire.

A Northern California company is offering free computer data retrieval help to victims of Southern California's recent fires, including the Orange County blaze that destroyed 10 houses in Lemon Heights. Victims whose computers were damaged in the fires might still be able to salvage data stored on the computer's hard drive, said Scott Gaidano, president of DriveSavers Data Recovery Inc., an 11-year-old company based in Novato.

Six firefighters were hurt Tuesday as wildfires roared for a second day across Malibu and parts of San Diego County, and officials declared that the most devastating of the blazes was of "suspicious" origin. Fire crews were scrambling to expand their partial containment of the two largest in a series of brush fires that swept across Southern California--hoping to work faster than the Santa Ana winds that were forecast to intensify later in the week.

The dried-out brush crunched in telltale snaps under Jay Lopez's footsteps as he and his partner wended their way through Pico Canyon in the Santa Clarita Valley. Under the chaparral lay the makings of this summer's fires. "The plant looks nice and green, but if you look into it, there are all sorts of dead materials," said Lopez, a forester with Los Angeles County Fire Department's forestry division. "When it comes down to it, everything burns."

Americans paid more attention to President Bush repudiating his campaign promise not to raise taxes than they have to most of what he has done as President, but it is not clear that this reversal is affecting his popularity, according to a new survey.

Firestorms fueled by furious winds blasted capriciously across Southern California on Monday, destroying more than 30 homes in northern San Diego County and 10 more in Orange County, while firefighters and residents fought fiercely overnight to save homes as flames roared to the Pacific Ocean into Malibu. The widespread destruction conjured up the harrowing images of fires that ravaged the region just three years ago.

Firestorms fueled by furious winds blasted capriciously across Southern California on Monday, destroying more than 50 homes in northern San Diego County and 10 in Orange County, while firefighters and residents fought fiercely overnight to save homes as flames roared to the Pacific Ocean in Malibu. The widespread destruction conjured up the harrowing images of fires that ravaged the region just three years ago.