Fire forces evacuation of hundreds in Southern California

[rodeodance]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4620509.html

March 11, 2007, 5:53PM

Fire forces evacuation of hundreds in Southern California

Associated Press


ORANGE, Calif. — Authorities evacuated at least 100 homes as a fast-moving brush fire scorched 300 acres of parched hillside today and crept into backyards, Orange County fire officials said.

The fire, stoked by hot dry winds and fueled by dry chaparral, quickly doubled in size in an unincorporated part of Orange County and threatened homes here and in Anaheim Hills. Police were going door to door to warn residents to evacuate, said Anaheim city spokesman John J. Nicoletti.

"There is a lot of fire personnel out there and they are doing the best they can, but the weather is not in their favor," said Lynnette Round, an Orange County Fire Authority spokeswoman.
.............

The area, like much of Southern California, is under a red flag alert, indicating a high fire danger. A prolonged drought has left the chaparral-covered hills highly combustible.

[xchrom]

1. and this is march.

[villager]

5. my thoughts exactly -- with as little rain as we've gotten around here...

....and all that brush from the heavy rains two years now dried out...

well, talk about "fasten your seatbelts" time...

[cboy4]

2. My state is on fire again. :(

But I'm sure FEMA will arrive shortly and save the day. :eyes:

[Kutjara]

3. Yep, they'll get to work building levees any day now. n/t

[cboy4]

4. lol. Exactly.

[Greyhound]

6. The annual destruction is early this year.

My sympathies to those who live there.