Santa Ana winds weaken
but fires continue
to rage
California wildfires continued to threaten large areas of the state Thursday despite a break in the harsh Santa Ana winds. Cooling sea breezes allowed planes to help fight the fires.
A woman walks through the ruins of her home in San Diego County. AP photo.
President Bush arrived in California to support
the victims of the fires. State officials said that nearly 21,000 homes and
1,500 businesses were still threatened.
Crews found two bodies in a destroyed home, bringing the fire death toll to three. The San Diego medical examiner’s office said five other deaths were connected to the wildfires because the victims were evacuees.
A San Diego Gas & Electric helicopter crashed today while checking the condition of power lines. The four occupants suffered minor injuries
In Rockbridge County, Karen Stanley of the Virginia Department of Forestry said the county is prepared to fight wildfires should they occur.
Virginia’s drought, though not as serious as California’s, still poses the threat of wildfire. But because winds in Virginia are not as strong as the dry Santa Ana winds, Stanley said, planes should be able to help fight the fires.
Virginia Department of Forestry
Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Brian Richardson
Reporting supervisors:
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd