LOS ANGELES --- Southern Californians weathered a second consecutive day of devastation Saturday as wind-blasted wildfires destroyed 500 mobile homes, forced thousands of people to flee and shut down major freeways.
No deaths were reported, but the Los Angeles police chief said he feared authorities might find bodies in the devastated mobile home park, which housed many senior citizens. Crews were waiting for the ground to cool before bringing in search dogs.
The fires have hurt at least 20 people and destroyed hundreds of homes from coastal Santa Barbara to inland Riverside County, on the other side of the heavily populated Los Angeles area.
A blaze that ravaged the Sylmar community in the hillsides above Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley grew to 6,500 acres Saturday -- more than 10 square miles -- and was only 10 percent contained. It sent residents fleeing in the dark Saturday morning as Santa Ana winds topping 75 mph torched cars, bone-dry brush and much of Oakridge Mobile Home Park.
"We have almost total devastation here in the mobile park," Los Angeles Fire Capt. Steve Ruda said. "I can't even read the street names because the street signs are melting."
The blaze, whose cause was under investigation, threatened at least 1,000 structures, city Fire Department spokeswoman Melissa Kelley said. A burned resident was in serious condition, and four firefighters were treated for minor injuries.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles. Fire officials estimated 10,000 people were under orders to evacuate, including residents of the mobile home park.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said power lines were down in places, and he asked residents to conserve power to help avoid possible blackouts.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
