Raging Southern California wildfires force 1 million to flee
Faced with unrelenting winds whipping wildfires into a frenzy across Southern California, firefighters all but conceded defeat Tuesday to an unstoppable force that has already chased nearly a million people away. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Firefighters battle a wildfire in the Del Dios area of Escondido, California. More than half a million people were ordered to evacuate across California on Tuesday as wildfires raged for a third day, razing over 1,000 homes and threatening to overwhelm weary firefighters.(AFP/Getty Images/Sandy Huffaker)
High winds drive hot embers smoldering in the Malibu Hills, in Malibu, Calif.
(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
A Los Angeles County firefighting helicopter passes through the smoke of Stevenson Ranch wildfire after making a water drop in Valencia, Calif., north of Los Angeles. Hundreds of homes were reduced to ashes Monday as wildfires blown by fierce desert winds raced across a huge swath of Southern California extending from Malibu to the Mexican border, forcing a quarter of a million people to flee. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
A swimming pool coated with ash sits next to the ruins of a luxury home after a wildfire in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., Tuesday, October 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
A firefighter watches a wind-driven wildfire on actor Sean Penn's property in Malibu, California, October 21, 2007. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)
Gusting Santa Ana winds whip the embers of a fire in Fallbrook, one of dozens burning throughout Southern California on October 23. (Photo and caption submitted by Bryxton G)
Homes burn up in flames at the Valley Oaks mobile home park along Reche Road, west of Interstate 15. Half a million Californians have been ordered to evacuate their homes and flee the spreading wildfires blazing across southern California Tuesday.(AFP/Getty Images/David McNew)
A firefighter works on the patio of a luxury beach-front home to fight a wind-driven wildfire in Malibu, California. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)
Interstate 15 near Reche Road is shut down as the Rice Fire jumps the freeway and destroys at least 100 homes. (AFP/Getty Images/File/David McNew)
A helicopter makes a water drop on a wind-driven wildfire on actor Sean Penn's property in Malibu, California. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)
An air tanker drops fire retardant on homes near near Fallbrook, California.
(AFP/Getty Images/David McNew)
Smoke billows to the sky above where fires are spreading near houses in Stevenson Ranch, California. (AFP/Getty Images)
A home goes up in flames at the Valley Oaks mobile home park 22 October 2007 near Fallbrook, California. (AFP/Getty Images/David McNew)
Horses stand in a pen as fire threatens the Bonita neighborhood in San Diego, California. (AFP/Getty Images/Eric Thayer)
The southern California wildfires are shown in this satellite image provided by NASA on October 23, 2007. REUTERS/NASA/Handout
A helicopter drops water 22 October 2007 in Stevenson Ranch, California. Half a million Californians have been ordered to evacuate their homes and flee the spreading wildfires blazing across southern California Tuesday.(AFP/Getty Images/J. Emilio Flores)
The Witch wildfire burned this home in San Diego County near the city of Poway, Calif.,Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
The Harris wildfire burns over Mt.San Miguel in San Diego County , Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Firefighters work to put out a fire in the vineyard of the garden of a luxury home in Lake Hodges, near San Diego, California October 23, 2007. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
A wildfire burns around a home in San Diego County near Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Two people watch as fire threatens the Bonita neighborhood in San Diego, California. (AFP/Getty Images/Eric Thayer)
A firefighter walks past backfires lit to protect the neighborhood of Bonita in San Diego, California. (AFP/Getty Images/Eric Thayer)
An aircraft makes a water drop as firefighters work to contain a wildfire in the Saugus area of Los Angeles County, October 22, 2007. (Phil McCarten/Reuters)
Handcrews work on hot spots as firefighters work to contain a wildfire in Saugus area of Los Angeles County. (Phil McCarten/Reuters)
Firefighters work to contain a wildfire in Malibu, California.
(Phil McCarten/Reuters)
Handcrews work on hot spots as firefighters work to contain a wildfire in Saugus, California, October 23, 2007. (Phil McCarten/Reuters)
A fire burns behind the fence of an unattended property near Del Dios Highway in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego, California October 23, 2007. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
A fire burns on an unattended property near Del Dios Highway in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego, California October 23, 2007. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES)
The wildfire burns in San Diego County near Rancho Bernado, Calif.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
The beach in Mission Bay in San Diego is a temporary home for livestock that were evacuated due to wildfires from numerous communities in San Diego County, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
A firefighter stands by backfires lit to protect the neighborhood of Bonita in San Diego, California. (AFP/Getty Images/Eric Thayer)
Smoke billows to the sky above where fires are spreading near houses in Stevenson Ranch, California. More than half a million people were ordered to evacuate across California on Tuesday as ferocious wildfires raged unchecked for a third day, destroying more than 1,000 homes.(AFP/Getty Images/J. Emilio Flores)
Smoke darkens the sky over Tijuana, near the U.S.-Mexico border October 23, 2007, as wildfires spread through California. Southern California's raging wildfires threatened to spread across the frontier with Mexico on Tuesday and small blazes broke out on parched Mexican ranches and along the border.REUTERS/Jorge Duenes
Firefighters watch a home burn out of control in Lake Hodges, near San Diego, California October 23, 2007. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
Smoke is seen around a "No Littering" sign near a burning structure near Del Dios Highway in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego, California October 23, 2007.
REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
California Department of Forestry firefighters hose down a burning structure near Del Dios Highway in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego, California October 23, 2007. Wildfires stoked by fierce winds burned unchecked across Southern California for a third day on Tuesday with 400,000 people in San Diego alone evacuated as flames destroyed or threatened homes from humble forest cabins to luxury villas. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
A local resident drives a truck and a carrier to evacuate her horses past a wildfire driven by powerful winds in Silverado Canyon, Calif. on Santiago Road Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. Wind-whipped flames consumed hundreds of homes across tinder-dry Southern California on Tuesday, and authorities ordered people in more than 350,000 homes to flee the fires. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Smoke darkens the sky over Tijuana, near the U.S.-Mexico border October 23, 2007, as wildfires spread through California. Southern California's raging wildfires threatened to spread across the frontier with Mexico on Tuesday and small blazes broke out on parched Mexican ranches and along the border.REUTERS/Jorge Duenes (MEXICO)
A California Department of Forestry firefighter uses an axe on the fire on a property near Del Dios Highway in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego, California October 23, 2007. Wildfires stoked by fierce winds burned unchecked across Southern California for a third day on Tuesday with 300,000 people in San Diego alone evacuated as flames destroyed or threatened homes from humble forest cabins to luxury villas. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
A bicycle burns on an unattended property near Del Dios Highway in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego, California October 23, 2007. Wildfires stoked by fierce winds burned unchecked across Southern California for a third day on Tuesday with 300,000 people in San Diego alone evacuated as flames destroyed or threatened homes from humble forest cabins to luxury villas. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Firefighters sleep on the doorstep of one of the homes they were protecting from the Harris Ranch Fire in Spring Valley, California October 23, 2007. Wildfires stoked by fierce winds burned unchecked across Southern California for a third day on Tuesday with 300,000 people in San Diego alone evacuated as flames destroyed or threatened homes from humble forest cabins to luxury villas. (Fred Greaves/Reuters)
A home destroyed the previous day is seen as firefighters work to contain a wildfire in the Canyon Country area of Los Angeles County, October 22, 2007. (Phil McCarten/Reuters)
The Witch wildfire left this burned home in its wake in San Diego County near Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Smoke from several large wildfires which flared across Southern California on October 21, 2007 is shown in this image taken at 14.50 PDT (21.50 GMT) taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite, and released by NASA October 22, show several active fires (outlined in red) northwest of Los Angeles. (NASA/Handout/Reuters)
Two firefighters lend support to firefighters lighting backfires to protect the neighborhood of Bonita in San Diego, California. US President George W. Bush will travel to California on Thursday to get a firsthand glimpse of areas ravaged by devastating wildfires, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Tuesday.(AFP/Eric Thayer)
Homes burn up in flames at the Valley Oaks mobile home park along Reche Road, west of Interstate 15, near Fallbrook, California. US President George W. Bush will travel to California on Thursday to get a firsthand glimpse of areas ravaged by devastating wildfires, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Tuesday.(AFP/Getty Images/David McNew)
Firefighters pull in to fight the Stevenson Ranch Magic Mountain Fire. (Submitted to By bsetter)
The scene from Highway 126 on Monday evening.(Submitted By KatRose)
Fire fills the sky above Magic Mountain on Monday evening.(Submitted By KatRose)
A super tanker drops water on the Magic fire just after 2:30pm Monday southwest of the Magic Mountain entrance. (Submitted to YourScene By bsetter)
A fire plane drops water on Stevenson Ranch on Monday (Submitted By bsetter)
The smoke from a Fontana fire forced people from their homes on Sunday.
(Submitted By DetHkyTwn)
Ventura Cross in the smoke from the fire.
(Submitted By jcavola)
A view of the North Lake Arrowhead fire from Lake Arrowhead Village.
(Submitted By Jesse)
Portola Springs at SR-133 and SR-241 interchange on Sunday evening.(Submitted By Gary)
A view of the Santiago Fire from Alton and Portola. (Submitted By Cathy M)
The Agua Dulce Fire on Sunday afternoon.(Submitted By Sara)
A view of the Wirch Fire from the corner of Nordahl and Mission in Escondido.
(Submitted By Michelle)
A resident of Irvine looking at the Santiago Canyon fire from atop the Quail Hill community.
(Submitted By Irvine Resident)
The twin fires in Castaic and Agua Dulce combine to blot out the blue sky in Santa Clarita on Sunday evening. (Submitted By Jeff_SCVTalk)
Sunset in Simi Valley on Sunday evening. (Submitted By Connie)
The Santiago Canyon fires as viewed from Irvine Blvd. and Sand Canyon.
(Submitted to YourScene By TarynC)
The Buckweed Fire as seen from fire Valley View School in Newhall. (Submitted By Mary)
A view of the Sanitago Canyon fire from The Village at the Irvine Spectrum on Sunday evening. (Submitted By JasonPyrz)
Firefighters battle the blaze in the Canyon Breeze Village Mobile Home Park in Santa Clarita.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
A home on Circle View Drive in Running Springs burns early today.
(Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter early today works to keep flames away from homes along Circle View Drive in Running Springs. (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)
Juan Mota, a U.S. Forest Service firefighter, tries to put out a blaze that destroyed a Running Springs home. (Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times)
U.S. Forest Service firefighters Eric Soloman, left, and Juan Mota douse a burning house in Running Springs near Lake Arrowhead. (Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times)
Ariel Yue peeks out of a tent in the parking lot at Qualcomm Stadium on Monday night.
(Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
San Bernardino firefighters battle flames on Easy Street in Running Springs. Several homes were lost in the San Bernardino Mountains community. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Tim Olson sprays a spot fire with a garden hose in an attempt to protect his Running Springs home. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The scorched remains of a home in the Grass Valley Lake area near Lake Arrowhead.
(Robert Durell / Los Angeles Time)
The charred remains of a vehicle in the Grass Valley Lake area of the San Bernardino Mountains. (Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times)
San Diego Police Sgt. David Dolan blocks Pomerado Road in Rancho Bernardo early today.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
San Diego Police Officer Susan de la Pena monitors a fire from Pomerado Road in Rancho Bernardo early today. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Chula Vista resident John Mercado watches the sunrise today as flames from the Harris fire line a hillside above Salt Creek Golf Club. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Randy Wormdahl, a San Bernardino County firefighter, douses a hot spot early today on Black Oak Drive in Grass Valley, near Lake Arrowhead. (Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times)
San Bernardino Fire Capt. Grant Hubbell tackles a burning house in Running Springs near Lake Arrowhead. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The devastating wildfires in Southern California have caused at least $1 billion in damage in San Diego County alone, officials said Wednesday, while firefighters hoped easing wind would give them an advantage in stopping the flames. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Firefighters gather in Running Springs in the San Bernardino Mountains early in the morning.(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Newport Beach Battalion Chief Chip Duncan keeps an eye on the Santiago fire in Orange County early this morning.(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A charred car is surrounded by smoldering homes along Elm Lane in Del Dios early this morning.(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Smoke from the Witch fire in northern San Diego County shrouds Lake Hodges in Del Dios early this morning.(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
A sky crane helicopter being used for the fire fighting dumps its load of water to slow the wind whipped Stevenson Ranch fire as it rages out of control in Valencia, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other officials stand next to a burned home at Lake Arrowhead, Calif. as they toured the area. (AP Photo/Pool, Jim Wilson)
A home in the path of a fast moving wildfire burns in the northern part of Poway, California. (Fred Greaves/Reuters)
A wildfire burns out of control as it moves towards Lake Arrowhead in Running Springs, California. (AFP/Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)
A home and motor home, at left, burn in Running Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Mike Meadows)
Plumes of smoke from wildfires are seen above the Lake Arrowhead, Calif. (AP Photo/Pool, Jim Wilson)
A line of houses burn out of control at the Witch Creek Fire in Ramona, California.
A tractor burns next to a house that caught fire in the patch of the Harris Ranch Fire in the far eastern part of San Diego County in the town of Jamul, California.
A firefighter knocks down flames on a house in the path of the Harris Ranch Fire in the far eastern part of San Diego County in the town of Jamul, California. REUTERS/Fred Greaves
A tractor burns next to a house that caught fire in the patch of the Harris Ranch Fire in the far eastern part of San Diego County in the town of Jamul, California.
A firefighter knocks down flames on a house in the path of the Harris Ranch Fire in the far eastern part of San Diego County in the town of Jamul, California. REUTERS/Fred Greaves
A wildfire burns in the San Bernardino mountains near Running Springs, Calif.
A house goes up in flames during a wildfire in the Fredalba community near Running Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
