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The Windy Ridge fire incident story as reported by the AP in India @ ndtv.com seems very accurate...

Forest fire: California homes evacuated

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Associated Press

Monday, March 12, 2007 (Anaheim):

A fast-moving brush fire scorched more than 2,000 acres of parched hillside and charred at least three homes, forcing authorities to evacuate more than 500 homes, fire officials said.

The three-square-mile fire threatened many other houses and the firefighters were working to protect them, Anaheim city spokesman John J Nicoletti said.

"This is a very dangerous firefight," said Orange County Fire Authority Chief Ed Fleming. "The terrain is quite rugged, with homes on top of ridges, and the fire picks up speed as it heads up the hill." Two firefighters suffered minor injuries, authorities said.

The fire, stoked by hot dry winds and fueled by chaparral, spread south and west quickly in an unincorporated part of Orange County.

It threatened multimillion-dollar homes here and in Anaheim Hills, about 56 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles.

Authorities said the blaze may have been started by a vehicle fire, and were investigating if the car was stolen and set on fire to destroy evidence.

Capt Steve Miller of the Orange County Fire Authority said afternoon winds blowing up to 56 kilometers made firefighting difficult for the more than 800 firefighters on the scene.

Slowing winds

Temperatures were above 32 Celsius and humidity was at five percent. But slowing winds later in the day allowed firefighters to get 10 per cent of the blaze contained Sunday evening, authorities said.

Firefighters were aided by helicopters and planes dropping water and retardant on the flames, and police went door to door to warn residents to evacuate.

The area, like much of Southern California, is under a red flag alert, indicating a high fire danger. A prolonged drought has left the chaparral-covered hills highly combustible. Fleeing fires has become a part of life for many residents.