The more things change the more they stay the same. If it's October in Southern California... there must be wild fires somewhere. The temperature goes up and the 70 mph Santa Ana winds return. In the last two days the two have combined to create a blow furnace effect maintaining two major wildfires,that have raged through the San Fernando Valley, forcing thousands of families from their homes.
At least two people have died because of the blazes that have burned more than 10,000 acres in the hills and mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, fire and police officials said.
More mandatory evacuations were expected Tuesday morning added Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and local officials have called on President Bush to issue a federal disaster declaration.
More than 1,400 firefighters from throughout Southern California joined the battle to prevent the blazes from pushing closer to pricey neighborhoods on the Pacific coast.
The Sesnon fire, in the Porter Ranch area at the west end of the valley, had burned more than 5,000 acres along a southwestern swath by late Monday.