Southern California Wildfires!*edit*-Suspect being sought
Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:54 pm
3 Firefighters Killed in Southern California Wildfires
jumps 500 acres in 20 minutes
up to 400 trapped in RV park
October 26, 2006
Fox
CABAZON, Calif. — Three firefighters were killed and two critically injured as they battled a wind-whipped wildfire Thursday that drove hundreds of people from their homes near Palm Spring, the U.S. Forest Service said.
Photo: Smoke rises from a wildfire burning in Cabazon, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006. A wildfire swept through dry brush near Palm Springs early Thursday, threatening homes and businesses and forcing evacuations. (AP Photo/David Pardo)
The firefighters were trying to protect a house early Thursday when the flames swept in.
"The engine was in the area and with the wind conditions like they were, the fire just overtakes and burns the entire engine," said Pat Boss, a U.S. Forest Service spokesman.
All U.S. Forest Service personnel were pulled off the fire after the deaths so they could "gather their thoughts, say their prayers," he said.
The fire, pushed by dry Santa Ana Winds of 25 mph or more, quickly blackened more than 4,000 acres and destroyed at least three homes on Thursday. At least one civilian was also injured.
The cause of the fire wasn't immediately clear. It started early Thursday, burning in a valley with a few scattered ranch homes. The hamlets of Poppet Ranch and Twin Pines were evacuated along with a juvenile center, Twin Pines Boys Ranch.
About 200 people left homes when mandatory evacuations were ordered, fire Capt. Julie Hutchinson said.
The blaze had burned more than 1,000 acres by midmorning, and 25 mph winds were quickly spreading the flames, said Becky Luther, a spokeswoman for the Riverside County Fire Department.
No injuries were immediately reported but at least one building burned. Officials could not immediately say if it was home.
The fire was burning in a valley with a few scattered ranch homes, but the hamlets of Poppet Ranch and Twin Pines were evacuated along with a juvenile center, Twin Pines Boys Ranch. About 200 people left homes when mandatory evacuations were ordered, fire Capt. Julie Hutchinson said.
"The biggest concern is if it gets over the hills," Luther said. "That's where all of the homes are."
Officials worried the fire could reach an area of the San Bernardino National Forest where a bark beetle infestation had killed trees that could easily fuel a blaze. In the valley where it was burning Thursday morning, the ground cover is mostly grass and chaparral that burns hot and quick, allowing the fire to spread quickly but with little staying power, Luther said.
An emergency evacuation center was set up at Banning Community Center, near Cabazon, where the fire was raging.
Timo Hargu, 61, said he rushed from his hilltop home with his two dogs after he looked out a window and saw fire burning toward him in a valley. "The whole thing was ablaze with flame," he said. "It was the most spectacular view. A terrible view, but spectacular."
Cabazon is about 90 miles east of Los Angeles and 17 miles northwest of Palm Springs in Riverside County.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,225437,00.html
jumps 500 acres in 20 minutes
up to 400 trapped in RV park
October 26, 2006
Fox
CABAZON, Calif. — Three firefighters were killed and two critically injured as they battled a wind-whipped wildfire Thursday that drove hundreds of people from their homes near Palm Spring, the U.S. Forest Service said.
Photo: Smoke rises from a wildfire burning in Cabazon, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006. A wildfire swept through dry brush near Palm Springs early Thursday, threatening homes and businesses and forcing evacuations. (AP Photo/David Pardo)
The firefighters were trying to protect a house early Thursday when the flames swept in.
"The engine was in the area and with the wind conditions like they were, the fire just overtakes and burns the entire engine," said Pat Boss, a U.S. Forest Service spokesman.
All U.S. Forest Service personnel were pulled off the fire after the deaths so they could "gather their thoughts, say their prayers," he said.
The fire, pushed by dry Santa Ana Winds of 25 mph or more, quickly blackened more than 4,000 acres and destroyed at least three homes on Thursday. At least one civilian was also injured.
The cause of the fire wasn't immediately clear. It started early Thursday, burning in a valley with a few scattered ranch homes. The hamlets of Poppet Ranch and Twin Pines were evacuated along with a juvenile center, Twin Pines Boys Ranch.
About 200 people left homes when mandatory evacuations were ordered, fire Capt. Julie Hutchinson said.
The blaze had burned more than 1,000 acres by midmorning, and 25 mph winds were quickly spreading the flames, said Becky Luther, a spokeswoman for the Riverside County Fire Department.
No injuries were immediately reported but at least one building burned. Officials could not immediately say if it was home.
The fire was burning in a valley with a few scattered ranch homes, but the hamlets of Poppet Ranch and Twin Pines were evacuated along with a juvenile center, Twin Pines Boys Ranch. About 200 people left homes when mandatory evacuations were ordered, fire Capt. Julie Hutchinson said.
"The biggest concern is if it gets over the hills," Luther said. "That's where all of the homes are."
Officials worried the fire could reach an area of the San Bernardino National Forest where a bark beetle infestation had killed trees that could easily fuel a blaze. In the valley where it was burning Thursday morning, the ground cover is mostly grass and chaparral that burns hot and quick, allowing the fire to spread quickly but with little staying power, Luther said.
An emergency evacuation center was set up at Banning Community Center, near Cabazon, where the fire was raging.
Timo Hargu, 61, said he rushed from his hilltop home with his two dogs after he looked out a window and saw fire burning toward him in a valley. "The whole thing was ablaze with flame," he said. "It was the most spectacular view. A terrible view, but spectacular."
Cabazon is about 90 miles east of Los Angeles and 17 miles northwest of Palm Springs in Riverside County.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,225437,00.html
