Deadly wildfires return to California
Tuesday, 14 Oct 2008 07:36
State governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has urged residents to heed warnings from public safety officials
Two people have been killed after the first wildfires of the season swept across southern California, threatening the outskirts of Los Angeles.
More than 1,000 firefighters are tackling the brush fires, which have seen a state of emergency declared in the Los Angeles and Ventura counties of the United States state.
Up to 1,500 homes are said to be under threat as about 12,000 residents are forcibly evacuated.
This time last year 12 people died and half a million were evacuated when California, susceptible to wildfires, was beset with brush fires.
"It's a very dangerous situation," said LA county fire chief Michael Freeman.
It emerged on Tuesday that a homeless man had died beneath a highway overpass due to the fires, while one person was killed in a collision on a smoke-engulfed freeway.
State governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has urged residents to heed warnings from public safety officials.
"Winds are causing fire conditions to change by the hour," he said.
"It's critical that everyone in the warning areas continue to be prepared-know what you're going to take and be ready to move very quickly if the evacuation order comes in your area."