California inferno in pictures
![A firefighter sprays fire retardant foam on the smoking remains of a house. More than a dozen separate fires, driven by dry, gale-force Santa Ana winds, burned out of control across the drought-stricken southern half of the state, charring an estimated 200,000 acres, killing at least one person and injuring a number of others.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/91/d803e52996cc8316f7c618fccb59d/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A firefighter sprays fire retardant foam on the smoking remains of a house. More than a dozen separate fires, driven by dry, gale-force Santa Ana winds, burned out of control across the drought-stricken southern half of the state, charring an estimated 200,000 acres, killing at least one person and injuring a number of others. (REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni )")
![The southern California wildfires are shown in this satellite image provided by NASA. The image shows thick, billowing smoke coming off numerous large fires and spreading over the Pacific Ocean in an image taken on the afternoon of October 22, 2007. Fire activity has been outlined by NASA in red.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/f7/969e1261e17cfc97a9338897697e17/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "The southern California wildfires are shown in this satellite image provided by NASA. The image shows thick, billowing smoke coming off numerous large fires and spreading over the Pacific Ocean in an image taken on the afternoon of October 22, 2007. Fire activity has been outlined by NASA in red. (UTERS/NASA/MODIS Rapid Response/Handout)")
![Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair applauds California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, speaking via remote camera feed from San Diego during The Women's Conference 2007 in Long Beach, California. Schwarzenegger was scheduled to appear with Blair at the conference but could not be present due to the wildfire situation.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/e7/e71ae42123fe09bff3dc2b648b65a/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair applauds California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, speaking via remote camera feed from San Diego during The Women's Conference 2007 in Long Beach, California. Schwarzenegger was scheduled to appear with Blair at the conference but could not be present due to the wildfire situation. (REUTERS/Chris Pizzello )")
![A bicycle burns on an unattended property near Del Dios Highway in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders told people to "stay at home, stay off the freeways" so fire crews and evacuees could keep moving as the winds changed course. He said about 1,000 homes in San Diego County had been destroyed.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/f9/982917fde8cc623c8634a0e17bf24/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A bicycle burns on an unattended property near Del Dios Highway in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders told people to \"stay at home, stay off the freeways\" so fire crews and evacuees could keep moving as the winds changed course. He said about 1,000 homes in San Diego County had been destroyed. (REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni )")
![Firefighters sleep by the roadside after fighting fires in Lake Hodges, near San Diego. Relentless wildfires forcing the largest evacuations in California's modern history raged into a fourth day on Wednesday as 10,000 exhausted firefighters hoped for a break in the hot winds whipping the flames.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/42/9e8210fa984c405527120a97093c6/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "Firefighters sleep by the roadside after fighting fires in Lake Hodges, near San Diego. Relentless wildfires forcing the largest evacuations in California's modern history raged into a fourth day on Wednesday as 10,000 exhausted firefighters hoped for a break in the hot winds whipping the flames. (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson )")
![Residents evacuate an apartment building as the flames approach. The area hit stretches from the celebrity enclave of Malibu down to the Mexican border.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/d3/8e6ef061343e66aac340e9758b3691/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "Residents evacuate an apartment building as the flames approach. The area hit stretches from the celebrity enclave of Malibu down to the Mexican border. (REUTERS/Phil McCarten (UNITED STATES))")
![A worker sprays fire retardant foam on a home as firefighters work to contain a wildfire in Malibu. The wildfire burned out of control on Sunday, forcing hundreds of people to flee and destroying a handful of multimillion-dollar homes.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/c8/a21a13f7718ffbdb7bbf553995843a/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A worker sprays fire retardant foam on a home as firefighters work to contain a wildfire in Malibu. The wildfire burned out of control on Sunday, forcing hundreds of people to flee and destroying a handful of multimillion-dollar homes. (REUTERS/Phil McCarten (UNITED STATES))")
![An Erickson Air-Crane heads away from the fire to refill with water as firefighters work to contain a wildfire in the Valencia area of Los Angeles County. The emergency crews are not being helped by hot winds gusting up to 70mph which are fanning the flames and making the fires spread across a wider area.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/11/7875e4ef2e17eef01d2e37616fa587/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "An Erickson Air-Crane heads away from the fire to refill with water as firefighters work to contain a wildfire in the Valencia area of Los Angeles County. The emergency crews are not being helped by hot winds gusting up to 70mph which are fanning the flames and making the fires spread across a wider area. (REUTERS/Phil McCarten)")
![A fire burns behind the fence of an unattended property near Del Dios Highway in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego. Wildfires stoked by fierce winds burned unchecked across Southern California for a third day on Tuesday with 300,000 people in San Diego alone evacuated as flames destroyed or threatened homes from humble forest cabins to luxury villas.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/27/f7aa1c1e4245c5926654adee7709d/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A fire burns behind the fence of an unattended property near Del Dios Highway in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego. Wildfires stoked by fierce winds burned unchecked across Southern California for a third day on Tuesday with 300,000 people in San Diego alone evacuated as flames destroyed or threatened homes from humble forest cabins to luxury villas. (REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni)")
![A home burns on the Rincon Indian Reservation in Rincon. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called in 1,500 National Guard troops to help with firefighting, evacuations and crowd control.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/1d/891cb9c86abb2278d4602273398f9/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A home burns on the Rincon Indian Reservation in Rincon. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called in 1,500 National Guard troops to help with firefighting, evacuations and crowd control. (EUTERS/Lucy Nicholson )")
![The charred remains of a bedroom are seen through the shattered window of a home in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego. Towering wildfires burned out of control across Southern California for a third day on Tuesday as 500,000 people fled the San Diego area and firefighters made a desperate stand to save a mountain town ringed by flames.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/2c/bff89ee4c3883f9f15f9d8f62dca/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "The charred remains of a bedroom are seen through the shattered window of a home in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego. Towering wildfires burned out of control across Southern California for a third day on Tuesday as 500,000 people fled the San Diego area and firefighters made a desperate stand to save a mountain town ringed by flames. (REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni)")
![Residents Kaitlyn Terrill, Joey Terrill, and Anna Ksenvenko watch a fire helicopter make a water drop as they stand in a line of people waiting for a police escort to return to their home for medication, in the evacuated area of Rancho Bernardo, near San Diego.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/98/bd26c8e7285558bfb6d39c536adff5/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "Residents Kaitlyn Terrill, Joey Terrill, and Anna Ksenvenko watch a fire helicopter make a water drop as they stand in a line of people waiting for a police escort to return to their home for medication, in the evacuated area of Rancho Bernardo, near San Diego. (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)")
![A bird rests on a tree during a wind-driven wildfire in Malibu. The firestorms closed major state highways, schools and businesses and plumes of thick black smoke drifted across much of southern California, blotting out the sun.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/c5/4526934bd534cb366851384fe6d/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A bird rests on a tree during a wind-driven wildfire in Malibu. The firestorms closed major state highways, schools and businesses and plumes of thick black smoke drifted across much of southern California, blotting out the sun. (REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni)")
![A firefighter sheilds his face while lighting backfires at the Witch Creek Fire in San Diego County.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/e1/4a7e8519b157e2341c619c7a8fe8/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A firefighter sheilds his face while lighting backfires at the Witch Creek Fire in San Diego County. (REUTERS/Fred Greaves (UNITED STATES))")
![Among celebrities reported as having to flee in the Malibu area were film director James Cameron and Olivia Newton-John. Many others have homes there including Mel Gibson, Barbara Streisand, Richard Gere, Pierce Brosnan, and David Geffen.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/59/27107973643a5611f3acf75a8f83fc/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "Among celebrities reported as having to flee in the Malibu area were film director James Cameron and Olivia Newton-John. Many others have homes there including Mel Gibson, Barbara Streisand, Richard Gere, Pierce Brosnan, and David Geffen. (REUTERS/Phil McCarten (UNITED STATES))")
![Firefighting helicopters refill in a small lake as they work to protect homes.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/f4/becd0a240afefb1c85e4316263c/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "Firefighting helicopters refill in a small lake as they work to protect homes. (REUTERS/Phil McCarten (UNITED STATES))")
![A news crew soundman walks past a burning car as firefighters battle to contain the blaze. On Monday, thousands of homes were still at risk from wildfires raging through tinder-dry Californian countryside.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/fe/3e244fa9c63c4148b6e80ecff7ea1/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A news crew soundman walks past a burning car as firefighters battle to contain the blaze. On Monday, thousands of homes were still at risk from wildfires raging through tinder-dry Californian countryside. (REUTERS/Phil McCarten (UNITED STATES))")
![Kirsten Devane evacuates her Malibu apartment – taking her treasured pet gecko with her.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/2b/5d84b80ed53bf982edd212106c5e/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "Kirsten Devane evacuates her Malibu apartment – taking her treasured pet gecko with her. (REUTERS/Phil McCarten (UNITED STATES))")
![California fire evacuees leave a Red Cross evacuation centre in Poway, California, as the fast spreading Witch Creek wild fire in eastern San Diego County forces the evacuation centre to move west.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/21/96e16950fd29f54c7da560713a1350/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "California fire evacuees leave a Red Cross evacuation centre in Poway, California, as the fast spreading Witch Creek wild fire in eastern San Diego County forces the evacuation centre to move west. (REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES))")
A firefighter gives the thumbs up as a helicopter drops water to fight a wind-driven wildfire in Malibu, California. Powerful winds fanned a wildfire burning through the canyons of the seaside celebrity enclave of Malibu on Sunday, forcing hundreds of people to flee and destroying a handful of multimillion-dollar homes.
A firefighter gives the thumbs up as a helicopter drops water to fight a wind-driven wildfire in Malibu, California. Powerful winds fanned a wildfire burning through the canyons of the seaside celebrity enclave of Malibu on Sunday, forcing hundreds of people to flee and destroying a handful of multimillion-dollar homes.
A firefighter sprays fire retardant foam on the smoking remains of a house. More than a dozen separate fires, driven by dry, gale-force Santa Ana winds, burned out of control across the drought-stricken southern half of the state, charring an estimated 200,000 acres, killing at least one person and injuring a number of others.
A firefighter sprays fire retardant foam on the smoking remains of a house. More than a dozen separate fires, driven by dry, gale-force Santa Ana winds, burned out of control across the drought-stricken southern half of the state, charring an estimated 200,000 acres, killing at least one person and injuring a number of others.
The southern California wildfires are shown in this satellite image provided by NASA. The image shows thick, billowing smoke coming off numerous large fires and spreading over the Pacific Ocean in an image taken on the afternoon of October 22, 2007. Fire activity has been outlined by NASA in red.
The southern California wildfires are shown in this satellite image provided by NASA. The image shows thick, billowing smoke coming off numerous large fires and spreading over the Pacific Ocean in an image taken on the afternoon of October 22, 2007. Fire activity has been outlined by NASA in red.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair applauds California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, speaking via remote camera feed from San Diego during The Women's Conference 2007 in Long Beach, California. Schwarzenegger was scheduled to appear with Blair at the conference but could not be present due to the wildfire situation.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair applauds California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, speaking via remote camera feed from San Diego during The Women's Conference 2007 in Long Beach, California. Schwarzenegger was scheduled to appear with Blair at the conference but could not be present due to the wildfire situation.
A bicycle burns on an unattended property near Del Dios Highway in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders told people to "stay at home, stay off the freeways" so fire crews and evacuees could keep moving as the winds changed course. He said about 1,000 homes in San Diego County had been destroyed.
A bicycle burns on an unattended property near Del Dios Highway in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders told people to "stay at home, stay off the freeways" so fire crews and evacuees could keep moving as the winds changed course. He said about 1,000 homes in San Diego County had been destroyed.
Firefighters sleep by the roadside after fighting fires in Lake Hodges, near San Diego. Relentless wildfires forcing the largest evacuations in California's modern history raged into a fourth day on Wednesday as 10,000 exhausted firefighters hoped for a break in the hot winds whipping the flames.
Firefighters sleep by the roadside after fighting fires in Lake Hodges, near San Diego. Relentless wildfires forcing the largest evacuations in California's modern history raged into a fourth day on Wednesday as 10,000 exhausted firefighters hoped for a break in the hot winds whipping the flames.
Residents evacuate an apartment building as the flames approach. The area hit stretches from the celebrity enclave of Malibu down to the Mexican border.
Residents evacuate an apartment building as the flames approach. The area hit stretches from the celebrity enclave of Malibu down to the Mexican border.
A worker sprays fire retardant foam on a home as firefighters work to contain a wildfire in Malibu. The wildfire burned out of control on Sunday, forcing hundreds of people to flee and destroying a handful of multimillion-dollar homes.
A worker sprays fire retardant foam on a home as firefighters work to contain a wildfire in Malibu. The wildfire burned out of control on Sunday, forcing hundreds of people to flee and destroying a handful of multimillion-dollar homes.
An Erickson Air-Crane heads away from the fire to refill with water as firefighters work to contain a wildfire in the Valencia area of Los Angeles County. The emergency crews are not being helped by hot winds gusting up to 70mph which are fanning the flames and making the fires spread across a wider area.
An Erickson Air-Crane heads away from the fire to refill with water as firefighters work to contain a wildfire in the Valencia area of Los Angeles County. The emergency crews are not being helped by hot winds gusting up to 70mph which are fanning the flames and making the fires spread across a wider area.
A fire burns behind the fence of an unattended property near Del Dios Highway in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego. Wildfires stoked by fierce winds burned unchecked across Southern California for a third day on Tuesday with 300,000 people in San Diego alone evacuated as flames destroyed or threatened homes from humble forest cabins to luxury villas.
A fire burns behind the fence of an unattended property near Del Dios Highway in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego. Wildfires stoked by fierce winds burned unchecked across Southern California for a third day on Tuesday with 300,000 people in San Diego alone evacuated as flames destroyed or threatened homes from humble forest cabins to luxury villas.
A home burns on the Rincon Indian Reservation in Rincon. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called in 1,500 National Guard troops to help with firefighting, evacuations and crowd control.
The charred remains of a bedroom are seen through the shattered window of a home in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego. Towering wildfires burned out of control across Southern California for a third day on Tuesday as 500,000 people fled the San Diego area and firefighters made a desperate stand to save a mountain town ringed by flames.
The charred remains of a bedroom are seen through the shattered window of a home in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego. Towering wildfires burned out of control across Southern California for a third day on Tuesday as 500,000 people fled the San Diego area and firefighters made a desperate stand to save a mountain town ringed by flames.
Residents Kaitlyn Terrill, Joey Terrill, and Anna Ksenvenko watch a fire helicopter make a water drop as they stand in a line of people waiting for a police escort to return to their home for medication, in the evacuated area of Rancho Bernardo, near San Diego.
Residents Kaitlyn Terrill, Joey Terrill, and Anna Ksenvenko watch a fire helicopter make a water drop as they stand in a line of people waiting for a police escort to return to their home for medication, in the evacuated area of Rancho Bernardo, near San Diego.
A bird rests on a tree during a wind-driven wildfire in Malibu. The firestorms closed major state highways, schools and businesses and plumes of thick black smoke drifted across much of southern California, blotting out the sun.
A bird rests on a tree during a wind-driven wildfire in Malibu. The firestorms closed major state highways, schools and businesses and plumes of thick black smoke drifted across much of southern California, blotting out the sun.
A firefighter sheilds his face while lighting backfires at the Witch Creek Fire in San Diego County.
A firefighter sheilds his face while lighting backfires at the Witch Creek Fire in San Diego County.
Among celebrities reported as having to flee in the Malibu area were film director James Cameron and Olivia Newton-John. Many others have homes there including Mel Gibson, Barbara Streisand, Richard Gere, Pierce Brosnan, and David Geffen.
Among celebrities reported as having to flee in the Malibu area were film director James Cameron and Olivia Newton-John. Many others have homes there including Mel Gibson, Barbara Streisand, Richard Gere, Pierce Brosnan, and David Geffen.
Firefighting helicopters refill in a small lake as they work to protect homes.
Firefighting helicopters refill in a small lake as they work to protect homes.
A news crew soundman walks past a burning car as firefighters battle to contain the blaze. On Monday, thousands of homes were still at risk from wildfires raging through tinder-dry Californian countryside.
A news crew soundman walks past a burning car as firefighters battle to contain the blaze. On Monday, thousands of homes were still at risk from wildfires raging through tinder-dry Californian countryside.
Kirsten Devane evacuates her Malibu apartment – taking her treasured pet gecko with her.
Kirsten Devane evacuates her Malibu apartment – taking her treasured pet gecko with her.
California fire evacuees leave a Red Cross evacuation centre in Poway, California, as the fast spreading Witch Creek wild fire in eastern San Diego County forces the evacuation centre to move west.
California fire evacuees leave a Red Cross evacuation centre in Poway, California, as the fast spreading Witch Creek wild fire in eastern San Diego County forces the evacuation centre to move west.
