LAT/AP: Emergency Declared as Wildfires Grow In California Desert

[DeepModem Mom]

Emergency Declared as Wildfires Grow In California Desert
From the Associated Press
July 13, 2006


Map: Los Angeles Times

Yucca Valley, Calif. -- A 40,000-acre fire chewed through desert wilderness Thursday after destroying 100 homes and buildings and was on course to possibly merge with a nearly 7,000-acre blaze in the San Bernardino National Forest, where it could feed on vast stands of dead trees.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County, citing "conditions of extreme peril to public health and safety of persons and property."

The huge Sawtooth fire edged northwest on the desert floor toward the forest, and an evacuation was ordered for dozens of homes in Morongo Valley as flames crept down a hill a few miles away.

A few miles away, the Millard complex -- which started as four fires -- had scorched 6,930 acres and was a potential threat to 75 homes. Just 5 percent contained, it was burning at higher elevations that included both brush and timber, said forest spokeswoman Robin Prince.

In the scorched landscape left behind by the Sawtooth, residents returned to see how they fared....

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-yucca14jul14,0,6313297.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[yorkiemommie1]

1. The local news interviewed a man whose home had been spared

whereas the others around were in total ruins. His take on it was that ' God had a reason for sparing my house.' Does that mean that God wanted the others to suffer their losses???

:shrug:

[bananas]

2. Yes. nt

[Hekate]

3. The dead trees & their beetles have got to go,but I'm sorry for the people

I'm sorry for the people and their homes. It's very scary stuff -- and the air quality is awful for miles around.

Hekate