ME and Ophelia

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CALIFORNIA BATTLES MULTIPLE FIRES
Thousands of people evacuated from LA suburbs

Here's an update on yesterday's post re the fires that have been sweeping the south of California, USA since Tuesday. Yesterday thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in the Los Angeles suburbs. Winds from the desert and sea were fanning the fires making them difficult to contain. The fires, which have darkened the skies in the Rancho Cucamonga area, are believed to have been started deliberately. Houses and property have been destroyed and hundreds more are under threat. Reports say a mountain lion was spotted running through an empty smoke-filled neighbourhood. At least 2,500 firefighters are now on the ground fighting six separate fires. The fire has burned onto the campus of California State University, San Bernardino, where a car park was reported to be on fire. San Bernardino County officials have asked the governor to declare a state of emergency and requested state fire aid to get more firefighters. Courtesy of BBC online In pictures.
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Update on Monday, October 27, 2003:
A state of emergency has been declared in four counties in southern California where wildfires have killed at least 11 people. BBC update

Are you in California - what are your experiences of the fire?