Hundreds flee fast-moving fire in California


ANAHEIM HILLS , California (AP) -- A fast-moving brush fire scorched more than 2,000 acres of parched hillside and charred at least three homes Sunday, forcing authorities to evacuate more than 500 homes, Orange County fire officials said.

The 3-square-mile fire threatened many other houses and the firefighters working to protect them, Anaheim city spokesman John J. Nicoletti said.

"This is a very dangerous firefight," said Orange County Fire Authority Chief Ed Fleming.

"The terrain is quite rugged, with homes on top of ridges, and the fire picks up speed as it head up the hill," Fleming said. (Watch flames leap up toward house )

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries, authorities said.

The fire, stoked by hot dry winds and fueled by chaparral, spread south and west quickly in an unincorporated part of Orange County and threatened multimillion dollar homes here and in Anaheim Hills, about 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

Authorities said the blaze may have been started by a vehicle fire, and were investigating if the car was stolen and set on fire to destroy evidence.

Richard Steffy said he saw the fire out his window when he awoke Sunday morning.

"Boom, billows of smoke," he said. "It looked so close."

Capt. Steve Miller of the Orange County Fire Authority said afternoon winds blowing up to 35 mph made firefighting difficult for the more than 800 firefighters on the scene. Temperatures were in the 90s and humidity was at 5 percent.

But slowing winds later in the day allowed firefighters to get 10 percent of the blaze contained Sunday evening, authorities said.

Firefighters were aided by helicopters and planes dropping water and retardant on the flames, and police went door to door to warn residents to evacuate.

"We are holding our own, but the fire is going to continue to make progress as long as fuel is in its way. It's not a good situation for us," Miller said.

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.

Fleeing fires has become a part of life for many residents.

Susan Snell, who has lived in Anaheim Hills for 23 years, followed a well-worn routine Sunday: She put her cat in a carrier, packed tax and insurance papers and photographs and found a good vantage point.

"It's freaky what you end up taking with you," she said as she watched television at the Anaheim Hills Community Center for updates. (Watch official on when to evacuate )

Meanwhile, another brush fire had started about 20 miles away in Corona in Riverside County, said Capt. Julie Hutchinson from the California Department of Forestry. It had consumed about 25 acres but didn't threaten any houses, said Hutchinson.
[Edited 3/11/07 22:00pm]

You ok Muse?

liberation said:

Yes she is.

She just told me that the fire is near her, but she's totally forgotten about it and stuff because she's cooking some really good food or whatever.

liberation said:

Oh yeah! I am on the otherside of the hill.... It would have to torch quite a bit before it got up here...


On the way back from the store I noted a massive fire but forgot about it when I got in the house..... Wind is blowing East so no smell of smoke.

Dan reminded me....
[Edited 3/11/07 21:04pm]

Imago said:

I was studying!!!!! I knew it was going to kill me!


California is in a lotttt of trouble due to lack of rain....normally the hills are green and beautiful until late summer..... This year.... entirely dead. Add to that, the damn news teams announcing BE CAREFUL FOLKS, ITS DRY OUT THERE...and whamo... PYROS!

Yeah, now I'll click on the thread.

This thread just keeps getting better and better.

Now change the actual thread content and you'll have a winner on your hands.

Fauxie said:

This thread is so bad it's good.

I am looking outside of my window and can actually see the plumes of smoke!

karmatornado said:

Just bake some of that stuff Muse posted about, and you'll forget all about it soon.

Imago said:

People just aren't shocked as easily anymore. You've gotta have an angle. I mean, with a little truth improvement we could've had 'Muse's Hot Box!' or 'My bush is burning up - with pics!' or even perhaps 'My smoking bod! I mean, abode'. JustErin had the right idea reporting live and direct from Baghdad. Works much better than a fire on the other side of the hill. I wonder if she's really taking this on board though?

Fauxie said:

Who knows. Her clique is so large and powerful that her threads sustain themselves from her fan's posts alone. You just wait until Hollanders wake up. This thread will be on FIYA.

Fauxie said:

I knew it just WASNT a great thread title.

Imago said:

No its actually alot closer to muse than me, I'm thirty miles down the road, where as all the wind has to do is shift and karens whole house burns down.

karmatornado said:

Then we need to constantly remind that woman that she's in danger!

karmatornado said:

Do you have to put it THAT WAY?????

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

I'm sorry your house won't burn down. It would have to go through many houses before yours although 3 years ago the fires burnt down several homes a mile away from me! This will make you forget about fires!
http://www.youtube.com/wa...L4L4Uv5rf0

Imago said:

You both should really be paying your last respects to me just incase! Dan if I pass from this life before you do, I sware to haunt you all your remaining days!

Imago said:

It's some straight up mafia shit. Or the masons. I've seen the pics from the meet-ups at her 'house'. They do rituals and stuff like burning ass and shit. I'm just gonna keep myself to myself.

Having said that, I wouldn't mind seeing her inner sanctum.

karmatornado said:

Its a bad link!

Do you really want me to add to your thread? I mean, it would make it suck less, and you'll lose competition with Protege's threads.

Whenever there was a fire, we'd go out to the store to buy some potatoes. They taste the best that way.

ItsOnlyMe said:

Fauxie said:

ItsOnlyMe said:

I am failing to see the correlation between fires and potatoes?

Protege said:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...aJLG142pxg
a good link! Right near my home, well about 10 miles away!

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

Well, in one of the holidays we have, it's a tradition to make a campfire over night. and we used to throw potatoes to the fire, and pick them out while later. They taste great! Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Just like Imago

Is this thread insured?

Just sayin'

...
[Edited 3/11/07 21:47pm]

karmatornado said:

Heart breaking! 3 people have lost their homes tonight.... Dan is the one who alerted me to check into it....