Thousands ordered to evacuate as wildfires rage in S. California

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, October 25, 2003

Thousands ordered to evacuate as wildfires rage in S. California

The sky was blackened by ash and smoke while thousands of people were forced to evacuate Fridayin southern California, where at least four wildfires caused by days of hot dry weather were raging.

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The sky was blackened by ash and smoke while thousands of people were forced to evacuate Fridayin southern California, where at least four wildfires caused by days of hot dry weather were raging.

About 1,400 firefighters were struggling to control the biggest wildfire in the San Bernardino National Forest, about 50 miles (80kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles.

The fire, sending out billowing clouds of smoke and raining ash which blurred the sky, had torched four homes and more than 12,600acres of forest so far.

More than 2,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate from northeastern Rancho Cucamonga and the nearby Lytle Creek area as of Friday morning as the blaze was threatening local communities.

California Highway Patrol had ordered closure of the eastern section of the east-west highway 210 running north of Los Angeles, and Interstate 15, the main route from Southern California to Las Vegas of Nevada.

Firefighters set controlled backfires around the perimeter of the wildfires to help control the fires and prevent them from getting too close to homes.

But the wind-driven wildfires were expected to burn out of control until late next week due to the continued dry and high temperature that has last nearly a week.

The American Red Cross has set up two emergency shelter sites at the Rancho High School in Rancho Cucamonga and at the Jesse Turner Community Center in Fontana.

Local fire authorities said a firefighting helicopter was completely destroyed by the wildfire Friday morning, but no injuries were reported.

The fire, which authorities blamed on arson, was only one of several that swept through Southern California this week.

In the nearby Val Verde area of Los Angeles County, another wildfire started Friday morning and had burned 11 acres of forest.The San Martinez Canyon Road was closed due to the raging fire.

Another fire near Piru, Ventura County, had charred about 700 acres by early Friday, although it was burning away from homes, said Barry Peckham, a spokesman for Los Padres National Forest. After the Val Verde fire started, about half of the firefighters battling the Piru blaze were sent to Val Verde Friday afternoon.

At Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of San Diego, 1,350 firefighters raced against time to battle a 4,100-acre brush fire that was threatening 300 homes Friday.

Residents were asked to evacuate and a temporary shelter was setup. Officials said the fire, which was apparently sparked by live fire military training on a training range Tuesday, and was 40 percent contained by early Friday.

Meanwhile, a 2,857-acre fire in the Reche Canyon area of Riverside County had been completely contained as of Thursday evening. It had destroyed five homes, a barn, 21 outbuildings, a boat and several vehicles. The fire was also suspected as a result of arson.

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