Dishing out a new venture

Dishing out a new venture	27.07.2007

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07/26/2007		Gossip adds to Hutton`s grief
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In pictures: Chaos and destruction in Southern California

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Fires force 250,000 to flee

BUSHFIRES raging across California have forced hundreds of thousands to evacuate, from LA to Mexico.
In pictures: Chaos and destruction

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Hundreds of thousands evacuated from homes
Governor Schwarzenegger declares emergency
Chaos and destruction in Southern California

WIND-WHIPPED wildfires raged unchecked across California overnight, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people and besieging homes from Los Angeles to the Mexican border.

At least 10 fires were blazing throughout southern California with thousands of firefighters struggling to contain flames that have ripped through tinder-try hillsides and parkland following months of record-low rainfalls.

One person has been killed, more than 20 people injured and 34,000 hectares destroyed in the fires, which have reportedly forced the evacuation of 250,000 people in San Diego County alone.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has declared a state of emergency in seven counties to help battle the fires, described the escalating crisis as a "tragedy" for the state.

"It`s a tragic time for California," Schwarzenegger said after touring charred remains of buildings in Malibu, west of Los Angeles, where fires which erupted early yesterday have wreaked havoc.

As well as firefighters on the ground, authorities bombarded the blazes from above using helicopters and airplanes to drop water and flame retardant.

Fire authorities admit they are struggling to control the fires and are grimly expecting the situation to worsen with powerful, hot desert winds expected to gust across the region.

"These fires that are sweeping through Southern California are a perfect storm," said Los Angeles County supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.

"The fire department and law enforcement personnel have been stressed almost beyond the point of reason because there are so many fires going mutual aid has been stressed to their limits. This is a perfect firestorm.

"The winds are erratic and unpredictable. There is no telling where the fires will move and when."

Reports said authorities in San Diego County had ordered the evacuation of 250,000 people as the fires raced towards built-up residential areas.

Among the evacuees were prison inmates and hospital patients, while several schools were also closed.

In Malibu, strong winds fed the flames which destroyed a church and other buildings, forcing thousands to evacuate, including entire neighbourhoods.

Homes of director James Cameron and Grease movie star Olivia Newton-John were among those evacuated, celebrity site TMZ.com reported.

Thousands of students at Malibu`s Pepperdine University were evacuated. Nearby, the Malibu Presbyterian Church and several private homes burned to the ground, and the coastal highway from Los Angeles to San Francisco was closed.

The blaze also destroyed much of the Malibu Castle, known as Castle Kashan, a hilltop landmark and put up for sale in March for $US17 million ($19.2 million).

The causes of the different fires raging throughout the state were varied, with a fallen power line believed to be the cause of the blaze in Malibu while arson was blamed for a fire in Orange County that torched 1620 hectares.

"I`m sad to report this is an arson fire," said Orange County Fire Authority Chief Chip Prather.

One person was killed and four firefighters were seriously injured while trying to protect a home from fire in Potrero, 50 km east of San Diego, the fire department said. Seventeen people were injured.

Overnight today the fire had ripped through 8100 hectares of brush and was threatening 1500 structures as it raced to the Mexico border, a spokeswoman from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

Officials warned the fires may continue for several days while the high winds keep up.

"This fire`s been very erratic and it has moved rapidly when it has moved with the winds," Los Angeles county fire chief Michael Freeman said.

Many parts of California, including Los Angeles, have experienced record low rainfalls this year, leaving hundreds of thousands of acres of countryside at the mercy of wildfires.

In 2003, California wildfires left at least 22 people dead, scorched 300,000 hectares and destroyed 3000 homes.