Residents of about 200 Southern California homes were ordered to
evacuate on Sunday as a brush fire whipped by hot gusting winds scorched
500 acres (200 hectares) near a large hillside community, firefighters said.
Fire officials said two homes had burned in the fast-moving blaze in
brush about half a mile (0.8 km) from the Anaheim Hills neighborhood in
Orange County, about 35 miles (56 km) south-east of Los Angeles.
"This is very dangerous firefight. The terrain is quite rugged and the
homes are at the top of the ridges. The fire picks up speed as it runs
up the hill and as it runs through the canyons," Orange County battalion
chief Ed Fleming said.
Much of Southern California was under a red flag fire warning over the
weekend as hot winds drove temperatures up to around 90 (32º C) degrees
inland after a winter of exceptionally low rainfall. Fire season usually
runs from June to October.
Fire and police officials went door to door or used megaphones to order
residents out of their homes.
Helicopters and airplanes dropped fire retardant and water onto the
flames and some 200 firefighters fought the blaze on the ground.
Television picture showed flames leaping just feet from the backyard
patio and swimming pool of one home. Thick black plumes of smoke filled
the skyline and were visible for miles.
The blaze started early on Sunday morning and spread quickly, pushed by
winds from the desert gusting up to 35 mph (55 kph) in hot weather.
Orange County Fire Captain Steve Miller said it may have been sparked by
an abandoned car.
Fleming said humidity in the area was only 5 percent and that residents
not already evacuated should prepare to leave quickly if necessary.
"We are reminding people to get ready, take their people and pets,
papers, and phone numbers, prescriptions and pills ... and get ready to
move out," he said.
(
Planet Ark, 13/03/2007)