Today is the fifth since the fire has started in California. A number of 500,000 persons were evacuated and 1,300 homes have been destroyed. San Diego County has suffered losses in excess of $1 billion. Three of the largest fires still burned out of control there. However the firefighters have announced the wildfires are less dangerous now, because of the weaker wind and cooler temperatures.

President Bush declared California’s wildfires a “major disaster” and asked for federal help. Also, FBI gathered evidences to discover the sources of fire. “Those are crime scenes,” said Jim Amormino, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

I’ve noticed media cover very well the event. There are many blogs, news sites, photographers that keep updating the information for California wildfires. Even Google, which has its central headquarters in San Francisco, CA, has created a map of the California fires.

Emergency numbers here:

Find more here.

Filed under Environment, Social news
Tags: California wildfires, disaster, losses, San Diego, wildfire maps