Governor: 'It's A Tragic Time For California'

Wildfires Prompt State Of Emergency In 7 Counties

POSTED: 8:48 pm PDT October 21, 2007

UPDATED: 11:04 am PDT October 22, 2007

LOS ANGELES -- Wildfires fanned by fierce desert winds threatened thousands of Southern California homes Monday, as firefighters struggled to combat the blazes that rapidly engulfed the region, killing one and forcing thousands to evacuate.

In many cases, crews could not begin to fight the fires because they were too busy rescuing residents who refused to leave, fire officials said.

"They didn't evacuate at all, or delayed until it was too late," said Bill Metcalf, chief of the North County Fire Protection District. "And those folks who are making those decisions are actually stripping fire resources."

About a dozen blazes erupted over the weekend, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and drought-parched land from the high desert to the Pacific Ocean. Things got worse Monday, when several new fires sprouted, adding to the 40,000 acres -- or 62 square miles -- that already have burned. Some of the worst damage was in Malibu, where a church, homes and a castle were charred.

Firefighters acknowledged they were overwhelmed.

"You do not expect something to stretch our resources to this magnitude," Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Sam Padilla said. "To try and staff something this big, you cannot predict it."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency late Sunday in seven counties. One person died in a fire near San Diego, which burned more than 14,000 acres -- or about 22 square miles -- about 70 miles southeast of San Diego, just north of the Mexican border town of Tecate, California Department of Forestry spokesman Matt Streck said.

"It's a tragic time for California," the governor said at a Monday morning news conference.

Four firefighters and at least 10 other people were hospitalized, Streck said. Some of the injured were hikers, and others may be illegal immigrants.

Malibu

A brush fire that swept through Malibu, scorching more than 2,200 acres and destroying at least five homes and a church, was about 10 percent contained Monday, but no injuries were reported, authorities said.

Oct. 21, 2007: Homes, Church Destroyed In Malibu Fire

The Malibu fire was reported about 4:50 a.m. Sunday and may have been sparked by downed power lines, said county fire Inspector Sam Padilla.

Since then, flames have been whipped at times by Santa Ana winds gusting up to 60 mph. About 1,400 firefighters were battling the flames this morning, aided by water-dropping helicopters.

"It's been a long night," Padilla said.

Winds kicked up overnight and early Monday morning, making it difficult for the helicopters to make pin-point drops on flames in the area.

About 1,500 people were evacuated as the flames tore through brush and then began jumping from rooftop to rooftop in an area studded with multimillion- dollar homes.

The Malibu Presbyterian Church was destroyed. Several businesses in the Malibu Colony Shopping Center were damaged.

Among the homes destroyed was the Kashan Castle, also known as Hodge Castle, a 10,500-square-foot hilltop landmark built in 1978. The castle was put up for sale in March for $17 million.

All classes were canceled Monday at Pepperdine's Malibu campus. Classes were also canceled at all Malibu public schools, along with Topanga Elementary School.

Mandatory evacuations were in place for Malibu Knolls, Malibu Colony, Sweetwater Canyon, Malibu Road, Carbon Canyon, Carbon Mesa, Puerco Canyon, Rambla Pacifico, Monte Nido, Big Rock and Topanga Canyon south of Saddle Peak and Tuna Canyon, according to the city of Malibu.

Voluntary evacuations were in effect for Corral Canyon, Sunset Mesa, Old Topanga Canyon and Hillside Drive.

Malibu officials urged residents in other areas to be prepared to evacuate.

American Red Cross shelters were established at Agoura High School, 28545 W. Driver Ave.; and at Pacific Palisades High School, 15777 Bowdoin St.

In Malibu, road closures include Malibu Canyon Road, Kanan Road and Topanga Canyon. PCH is closed at Topanga through Kanan Road, and a detour is available.

Agua Dulce, Canyon Country

The so-called Buckweed Fire burning in the mountains near Agua Dulce had destroyed about 25 buildings by Monday morning -- some of them homes -- and had scorched more than 12,000 acres. It was 10 percent contained on Monday, authorities said.

The fire began in Mint Canyon west of Agua Dulce at about 1 p.m. Sunday and spread quickly amid offshore winds blowing about 40 mph, a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatcher said.

Sheriff Lee Baca said the blaze would take three or four days to extinguish.

Offshore winds rotating clockwise around a high-pressure system parked over the Four Corners are forecast to persist through Tuesday, though the peak of the windstorm is believed to have passed.

Four people, including a firefighter, were injured in the fire Sunday.

Evacuations were ordered in Vasquez, Bouquet and San Francisquito canyons. Shelters were set up at Quartz Hill High School, 6040 W. Avenue L, and at Saugus High School, 21900 Centurion Way.

Baca asked residents in fire areas to limit their travel and to keep the roads clear for fire equipment.

About 400 firefighters were assigned to the Buckweed Fire, and another 200-300 were expected to join the battle later this morning, fire officials said.

"We want to reassure the public that significant fire resources and law enforcement resources" are on the scene, Baca said.

A section of Sierra Highway was closed because of burnt power lines, and the bridge at Vasquez and Bouquet Canyon roads was "virtually destroyed" in the blaze, he said.

The Buckweed Fire has caused the following road closures: Vasquez Canyon, Bouquet Canyon and Francisquito.

Classes were canceled at most schools in Santa Clarita. All schools in the Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School will be closed on Monday, October 22, 2007, due to the Agua Dulce fire.

The Saugus Union School District has closed all its schools. Check other district Web sites for other closures.

Also, A High Wind Advisory is in effect from Avenue J in Lancaster to the Los Angeles/Kern County line, and travel is not recommended for campers, trailers or permit loads.

Lake Arrowhead

Wildfire was reported Monday morning in the area of Lake Arrowhead. Check INCIWeb.org for the latest fire information in that area.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for Green Valley Lake and Arrowbear Lake, and a voluntary evacuation is in place for Running Springs, according to RimOfTheWorld.net.

Castaic

A wind-driven fire that broke out in the Angeles National Forest near Castaic had blacked more than 1,500 acres and burned in a south-southwesterly direction away from the Golden State (5) Freeway.

The so-called "Ranch Fire," which was visible from the freeway, had blackened between 1,500 and 2,000 acres in northern Los Angeles County as of 1:30 p.m., with no injuries were reported, according to Kathy Peterson of the U.S. Forest Service.

Riverside County

A fire that scorched 260 acres in Aguanga was 60 percent contained Monday, but there was no word on when full containment was expected, a fire official said.

The blaze -- first reported just before 4 p.m. Sunday -- started near Highway 371 and Roca Vista Road and spread south to Highway 79, said Cheri Patterson of the Riverside County Fire Department.

One building burned but no injuries were reported, according to Massiel De Guevara, information officer for the Riverside County Fire Department. An initial report of a smoke inhalation victim turned out to be a false, said De Guevara. The person was examined for abdominal pains.

A four-mile stretch of Highway 371 that was shut down between Wilson Valley Road and Highway 79 was reopened Monday morning, De Guevara said.

About 200 residents of the Jojoba Hills RV park were ordered to evacuate the campground. An evacuation center was set up at the Temecula Community Center, 30875 Rancho Vista Road, in Temecula, said Riverside County fire Capt. Fernando Herrera.

About 200 firefighters remained at the fire scene overnight, he said. Air tankers have not been able to take to the skies because of high winds. Winds to 30 mph -- gusting to 50 mph -- were reported in the area, De Guevara said.

Copyright 2007 by KNBC.com and KNBC (NBC4 Los Angeles). The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.

source w/ pictures- http://www.knbc.com/news/14390468/detail.html?dl=mainclick

I live in Riverside County and its crazy!! I have never seen anything like this before in my life. Everything is just so off.

Keep in touch and let us know you are safe. Kylie you too if you are in that area.

I hope everyone in Ca. is safe.

^ While I'm in LA County, I'm still about an hour from the nearest blaze, so there's no real danger here. However, the winds have been so powerful that it's been "raining" ash here all day, the air is filled with smoke, and it smells like everything around me is burning. Actually, I guess it is. Since there's fires to the North, South and East (you really can't go West, it's coast line) of me. It's really sad, and frankly, kind of scary. I can't even imagine what it's like for those who have to go through this.

The more inland a city in LA/Orange/etc. county the safer you are. It's the outter brush that's burning.

JP, stay safe.

Edited October 23, 200718 yr by Kylie

so i was kinda watching the news as i was sleeping.

i guess they are syaing some of it may be arson.

thats awful.

srsly, go google pictures for this. its insane. it looks like all of socal is on fire.

of course all the over religous people on tv are saying its the end of day and the world is going to hell starting with so cal.

^ LMFAO So. Cal the start of the world going to hell. Bwhaha. Classic.

Yes, for the most part, all of So. Cal is on fire. I'm in a lucky spot where there is little to no chance that the fire will spread here, but am still locked in by flaming cities in all directions. You can literally walk outside, feel it, smell it, and touch it (the ash falls on the ground like dirt). I can see how it seems like the end of the world. I just think this is CA's Natural Disaster, or maybe not so natural if it was arson in some cases.

I live in Northern California (SF Bay Area) so the fire is not near me but I do pray for the safety of everyone in the Southern California area.

JP and Kylie it looks like you two are safe so that is what matters

^ Yeah, I'm one of the lucky ones. Though, there's fires to the North, South and East of me. Scary stuff. Everyone be safe, and strong.

Even though I pretty much hate everything about Los Angeles, I would never wish a huge fire on the city....people worry over us having to fear earthquakes. Well I fear fires here more than earthquakes since we seem to get a lot more fires than quakes....and I've only been in one earthquake (the big 1989 one in SF) and didn't even feel it so they really do not bother me.

^ it's not LA that's on fire, it's LA Country and the surrounding countites. The inland cities are safe, it's mostly the outlining brush that's blazing. So LA is just a loose term.

yeah pretty much fire is all around me. to the north east west and south of me. so im stuck here in riverside... sadly. if only i had left malibu a few hours later the night before i woulda been stuck there,. but i guess that woulda sucked as its all on fire. but i hate being in riverside, let alone being stuck in it.

freeways all around me are shut down. and i work in a hotel... and its no fun. the phone wont stop ringing. everyone wants to book a room cuz they have to leave the home. but every freakin hotel is all booked up as far as you can go.

and yeah, it does kinda feel like the end of days in a way. because as it was said, you walkoutside and you can see it. touch it. smeel it. breath it. my car is black. its so gross. i worry mostly about the little babies and the older people. breathing ash and smoke in isnt good for anyone let alone them.

the streets ar all so empty all the time unless everyone is going to or comming from work. its all just so odd and random. but i guess everyone forgets most of california is a desert. so im not that suprised.

but man... none of the soaps ar on and i dont know where to go to find out when they will air late night. so ill just have to watch.

Yeah, the smoke. Canadian news this morning was showing satellite shots and that is one massive cloud.

Jack, please keep us posted as to how you are. This is really scary stuff. Get out if you can.

i will keep u updated. lucky me, i got a new sidekick and have a myspace application and the internet. so on ym net = son.

and thats good cuz the internet/pone/tv keep going down.

im safe, for the most part, where i am though. no need to get out. the fires are just all around me. citys seem to be pretty safe. countys ont he other hand seem to be not so much.

from what i heard today it sounds like they have to give up on the aarowhead fire and just let it burn.

What's strange is that firefighters from all over the country went to New York when 9/11 happened. California isn't getting the same treatment, when it's no secret that there aren't enough people to do the job.

What's strange is that firefighters from all over the country went to New York when 9/11 happened. California isn't getting the same treatment, when it's no secret that there aren't enough people to do the job.

Maybe they'll send Blackwater security there and call everyone looters like they did in NOLA.