Raging Wildfires Reduce Scores of California Homes to Ashes
Hundreds of Thousands Forced to Flee
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 01:42 PDT

SAN DIEGO -- Wildfires blown by fierce desert winds Monday reduced
hundreds of Southern California homes to ashes, forced hundreds of thousands
of people to flee and laid a hellish, spidery pattern of luminous orange
over the drought-stricken region.

Firefighters described desperate conditions that were sure to get worse in
the days ahead, with hotter temperatures and high winds forecast for
Tuesday. At least 16 firefighters and 25 others were reported injured since
the blazes began Sunday, and one person was killed.

At least 655 homes burned _ about 130 in one mountain area alone _ and 168
businesses and other structures were destroyed. Thousands of other buildings
were threatened by more than a dozen blazes covering at least 240,000 acres,
the equivalent of 374 square miles.

Early Tuesday, President Bush declared an emergency for the seven-county
region, speeding federal disaster relief.