|
California fires prompt evacuation of over 1,000 suburban residents
2008-04-29
More than a thousand people have been evacuated from the suburbs east of Los Angeles, authorities said Monday, as firefighters continued to battle the first major blaze of the dreaded summer fire season. The Santa Anita Fire has burned nearly 500 acres north of Sierra Madre, California, in the foothills just 15 miles (25 kilometers) from downtown Los Angeles. Some 500 firefighters have been deployed to fight the blaze, which smouldered across rugged hills and brush-filled slopes. The fire forced schools to close and at least 400 homes to be evacuated, but so far has claimed no civilian victims and caused no property damage, officials said, although that The Los Angeles Times reported that two firefighters were slightly injured. Authorities predicted that the fire, which erupted Saturday and by late Sunday was about 30 percent contained, would be extinguished within four to seven days. Meanwhile helicopters, fire-fighting planes and water cannons were dumping water and fire retardant on the runaway blaze. Officials did not say how soon the evacuees could return and stressed the urgency of their efforts to clear out inhabitants in the affected areas. "This is a mandatory evacuation. We do not want people to wait until the last minute and then have to leave as fire trucks are moving up the roads," said Elisa Weaver, a spokeswoman. Firefighters remained concerned that the ferocity of the blaze -- fueled by an ongoing southern California heat wave that has seen temperatures rise to 98 degrees Fahrenheit (37 Celsius) -- could threaten more residents living closer to Los Angeles. "This is not a lazy fire. This fire is burning with some energy," Bamberger told a news briefing. "I was waiting for the possibility of more evacuations, although it looks like we're making good progress tying off the southern end of the fire near the city's northern boundary, which is where more homes are located," Bamberger said, adding that no homes had been burned. Surrounded by parks usually brimming with picnickers and pleasure-seekers, the Sierra Madre is a popular destination for hiking, daytrips and public and private events. Some 50 members of a wedding party were among those who had to be evacuated by helicopter. Southern California is frequently hit by scorching wildfires due to its dry climate, Santa Ana winds and recent housing booms in suburban and wooded areas. Last October, devastating wildfires were among the worst in California history, leaving seven people dead, destroying 2,000 homes, displacing 640,000 people and causing one billion dollars in damage.
| 
