CALIFORNIA - FIRES
Californians return home to devastation
Friday, October 26, 2007
Thousands of Californians evacuated from their homes over the weekend have returned home to mixed results. While some have lost everything, others find their homes untouched.
By Dan Whitcomb
LOS ANGELES, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Thousands of Californians
forced from their neighborhoods by this week's wind-whipped
wildfires returned home on Friday, some of them finding their
property unscathed amid the destruction and others discovering
nothing but blackened rubble.
forced from their neighborhoods by this week's wind-whipped
wildfires returned home on Friday, some of them finding their
property unscathed amid the destruction and others discovering
nothing but blackened rubble.
In San Diego County, where an estimated 500,000 people fled
the smoke and flames in the largest mass evacuation in modern
California history, lines of cars streamed back into
fire-scarred mountain communities that had been left ghost
towns.
the smoke and flames in the largest mass evacuation in modern
California history, lines of cars streamed back into
fire-scarred mountain communities that had been left ghost
towns.
Traffic was jammed for miles as weary residents made their
way one at a time past police checkpoints. In some
neighborhoods the hop-scotching fires left a single home
standing while burning everything else to the ground.
way one at a time past police checkpoints. In some
neighborhoods the hop-scotching fires left a single home
standing while burning everything else to the ground.
Steve Conner, 62, whose suburban San Diego home was one of
30 on his block reduced to ruins, described the moment he
confronted the loss of his house and neighborhood.
30 on his block reduced to ruins, described the moment he
confronted the loss of his house and neighborhood.
"Emotionally, it was just beyond belief," the Vietnam War
infantry veteran said, his voice shaking. "It's just totally
wiped out. All the trees are black ... It just reminded me of
Vietnam. It just reminded me of a war zone."
infantry veteran said, his voice shaking. "It's just totally
wiped out. All the trees are black ... It just reminded me of
Vietnam. It just reminded me of a war zone."
As of Friday afternoon, the wildfires killed at least 12
people, had blackened some 800 square miles (2,072 sq km) of
Southern California and destroyed 2,000 homes and other
structures. Losses were expected to top $1 billion in hard-hit
San Diego County alone.
people, had blackened some 800 square miles (2,072 sq km) of
Southern California and destroyed 2,000 homes and other
structures. Losses were expected to top $1 billion in hard-hit
San Diego County alone.
The few hundred remaining people in the largest emergency
shelter -- San Diego's Qualcomm sports stadium -- were being
moved to several smaller centers. The stadium, which at one
time had housed and fed more than 10,000 people, was due to
close Friday.
shelter -- San Diego's Qualcomm sports stadium -- were being
moved to several smaller centers. The stadium, which at one
time had housed and fed more than 10,000 people, was due to
close Friday.
Stores in the deserted communities began to reopen, some
with signs in their windows thanking firefighters for their
efforts. Crews removed fallen trees and repaired phone lines
that were blown down by the high winds.
with signs in their windows thanking firefighters for their
efforts. Crews removed fallen trees and repaired phone lines
that were blown down by the high winds.
After six days of relentless blazes from Los Angeles south
to the Mexican border, most of the raging fires had either been
doused or brought under relative control as the emergency
turned to the long business of recovery.
to the Mexican border, most of the raging fires had either been
doused or brought under relative control as the emergency
turned to the long business of recovery.
'THE BEST DAY OF THE WEEK'
But several major fires still burned out of control,
including the Harris fire south of San Diego that threatened
some two dozen homes, and the Santiago fire in Orange County --
although favorable weather was expected to help firefighters
rein them in.
including the Harris fire south of San Diego that threatened
some two dozen homes, and the Santiago fire in Orange County --
although favorable weather was expected to help firefighters
rein them in.
"Today will be the best day of the week for firefighters,"
National Weather Service forecaster Andrew Rorke said.
National Weather Service forecaster Andrew Rorke said.
The destruction was random, with some trees half burned and
others half green, some hillsides left charred moonscapes and
others untouched. In some neighborhoods, the burned remnants of
homes sat next to pristine ranch houses.
others half green, some hillsides left charred moonscapes and
others untouched. In some neighborhoods, the burned remnants of
homes sat next to pristine ranch houses.
"This has been an extraordinary week of course for people
of California," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told a news
conference. "The people of California have experienced some of
the most devastating and difficult fires in the history of
California and it's not over yet."
of California," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told a news
conference. "The people of California have experienced some of
the most devastating and difficult fires in the history of
California and it's not over yet."
In parts of San Diego County, residents were told to drink
only bottled water because of damage to water pipes.
only bottled water because of damage to water pipes.
As families began returning, the chances rose for more
grisly discoveries. Fire officials said more bodies could be
found in remote areas where people had refused to leave their
homes, or who were overrun by the speed of the inferno.
grisly discoveries. Fire officials said more bodies could be
found in remote areas where people had refused to leave their
homes, or who were overrun by the speed of the inferno.
Four burned bodies found in the path of the wildfires on
Thursday raised the death toll, either directly from the flames
or while evacuating, to at least 12 people. The four were
thought to be illegal immigrants overrun by fire near the
Mexican border as they walked through rugged terrain.
Thursday raised the death toll, either directly from the flames
or while evacuating, to at least 12 people. The four were
thought to be illegal immigrants overrun by fire near the
Mexican border as they walked through rugged terrain.
As officials began the massive clean-up and recovery
operation, a risk firm said insured losses would likely be $900
million to $1.6 billion.
operation, a risk firm said insured losses would likely be $900
million to $1.6 billion.
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