Wildfires merge in Southern California; 14 dead, 650 homes lost

Associated Press ^ | 10-26-03

[Brian S]

Wildfires that have burned for days merged into walls of flame stretching across miles in parts of Southern California on Sunday, leaving 14 people dead, burning 650 homes and frustrating overmatched firefighters who worked relentlessly against fierce winds.

Major fires had blackened 264,000 acres by Sunday night.

[Brian S]

There a two very good threads running with "on the ground" reports for those interested.

San Diego County fires - Live Thread 10/26

Southern CA fires - Live Thread 10/26 (4 separate major fires, incl. 1 new arson fire)

Our Prayers go out to those experiencing this nightmare...

[observer5]

Just wondering if these are all "accidental" fires...

[zencat]

Does anyone find it strange that Reuters still has their top story the rocket attack on the Baghdad hotel?

I mean we've got 100,000 acres on fire, 650 homes destroyed and 14 people dead in California.

[Elliott Jackalope]

I'm beginning to think that the word has come down from on high to cover this story as sparingly as possible, due to fear of inspiring a wave of "copycat" arsonists going out to start a dozen new blazes. There are a lot of unemployed and pi$$ed off people living in Southern California nowadays, looking up at the hillsides dotted with million dollar mansions. Don't want to give the "proles" any ideas.

[FairOpinion]

Note to feed paranoia, BUT:

FBI Sent Alert on Al Qaeda Forest Fire Plot (in Western US) (FLASHBACK: July 2003)

[linton59]

Pardon if I repeat myself for the fifth time: Five years ago in Florida a man discovered that disposable diapers do not burn. He extracted the gel and made a product called SHIELD. It could be sprayed on a building 2 WEEKS before a fire and the fire would skip over. The first year it was available at Home Depot for $49.95. Test cases confirmed it's amazing power. The next year I went to buy a container of it, just in case, and guess what: IT HAD VANISHED. Who bought up the patent and spiked it? Why? Whose advantage is it that homes burn to the ground? Every single one of these homes, and the homes on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona, burned in vain. ALL COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. WHY WERE THEY NOT???????

[Pagey]

I'll tell you this, being in Pasadena Calif, it is disgusting to be breathing ash for the last 4 days. The next time someone complains about dirty air and smog in L.A., I'm going to ask them what penalty they think should be applied to the people that started these damn fires. You cannot walk outside your home w/out breathing ash in L.A. County and San Diego. Period! It's worse than any pictures can show you on TV ,believe me. People do have to have ventilation in their homes and offices you know, and where do you think that air comes from? I suggest it should be considered a terrorist act. FYI Every extra-curricular sport that all of my neices,nephews and cousins participate in throughout So. Cal, has been cancelled for the near future.All of them.