Fires Continue to Ravage Southern California; Cooler Winds Expected

Firefighters hope to take advantage of the drop in temperatures to try to save more mountainous California communities from being destroyed by the fires as tens of thousands of residents continue to flee the blazes’ paths.

Hot Santa Ana winds, widely defined as warm, dry winds that blow over the coastal ranges of Southern California from the east, have driven some 17 fires across the state in what may prove to be the most destructive wildfire season in the state’s history.

This arc of fires has left some 16 people dead in the last week and destroyed some 2,000 homes, state officials told The Los Angeles Times.

“We are experiencing a history-altering event,” said James Wright of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, according to the Times. “We feel this is no doubt the most devastating natural disaster California’s faced, and also no doubt the most costly.”

Officials expect that the death toll will rise as rescuers move in to inspect the charred homes left in the fires’ wake.

“I’m sure we’re going to find folks who simply never had a chance to get out of their houses,” said Glenn Wagner, San Diego County chief medical examiner.

The peaks of the San Bernardino mountain range east of Los Angeles and the mountains of eastern San Diego County became major fronts Tuesday in the long string of wildfires that have roared over more than 567,000 acres — about 890 square miles.

More than 11,000 firefighters are on the front lines of the disastrous fires attempting to keep them contained and battling to save homes and businesses.

Fire officials are turning attention toward the resort towns of Crestline, Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear, which could face oncoming fires that have fed on thick underbrush and dry trees infested with bark beetles.

A major point of concern remains the so-called Old Fire, which had marched through the San Bernardino Mountains and surrounded 16 small mountain communities about 70 miles east of Los Angeles.

“We do have westerly winds that will continue to push the fire upwards into the communities of Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear,” said Carol Beckley, fire information for the Old Fire in San Bernardino County. “It really could become catastrophic if the winds continue.”

“Lower temps during the night helped somewhat but it doesn’t look good,” Beckley said.

Officials are also worried about the border area with Mexico, a rural area used as a passage into the United States by illegal immigrants.

“We haven’t seen this intensity of fire and number of residents being affected ever before,” Andrea Tuttle, director of the California Department of Forestry, said.

Some suburban communities have been completely destroyed, such as the mountainous lakeside town of Cuyamaca, home to some 160 residents, located east of San Diego.

“I’m sad to say the community of Cuyamaca was destroyed this afternoon,” Chief Bill Clayton of the state Department of Forestry told reporters in San Diego.

Gov. Gray Davis estimated that by the time all of the fires were put out the cost to California, which is already struggling with severe financial problems that led voters to throw him out of office in a recent recall vote, would be nearly $2 billion.

Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger traveled to Washington Wednesday to meet congressional leaders and appeal for federal funds to assist the state. President Bush has already declared a state of emergency in four counties hardest hit by the fires.

“We have a gigantic fire that has now destroyed over half a million acres in California,” Schwarzenegger told reporters Wednesday morning. “It has destroyed 1,500 homes (and) 15 people have lost their lives.

“So we have to get help as soon as possible,” he said.