coldfront
05-09-2007, 01:47 PM
Wildfires scorch thousands of acres across U.S.
POSTED: 8:06 a.m. EDT, May 9, 2007
Story Highlights• Two fires on Georgia-Florida line burn 130,000 acres
• Blaze in Okefenokee Swamp called largest in Georgia history
• Fire in Minnesota has destroyed 40 buildings, forced 100 to evacuate
• California fires in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange County, Camp Pendleton
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(AP) -- While firefighters in Los Angeles struggled to control a fire in Griffith Park Wednesday, other wildfires raged in the Midwest and the Southeast.
One massive blaze in southeastern Georgia was being called the largest in state history.
In Los Angeles, cooler temperatures and dying winds were helping firefighters make progress early Wednesday against a fierce wildfire that torched hundreds of acres in the city's largest park, forcing famous landmarks and nearby homes to be evacuated. (Full story)
Elsewhere in the region, a 300-acre fire near California State University at San Bernardino, was 75 percent contained. There were no reports of damages or injuries.
In neighboring Orange County, a 140-acre fire in Featherly Regional Park was 70 percent contained and a 1,250-acre fire on a training range at Camp Pendleton was 80 percent contained.
On the other coast, authorities evacuated about 300 homes in northern Florida as two fires totaling 130,000 acres -- one-fifth of a square mile -- continued to rage on the Georgia-Florida line. Florida officials warned that they might soon need help if the blazes grow out of control.
A 107,000-acre blaze in Georgia's Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was called the largest blaze in state history and was nearing part of the park that has served as a fire crew command post. Another fire 10 miles away covered 40,000 acres.
The smaller fire crossed into Florida on Tuesday and was threatening Taylor, a small town with one store and no cell phone coverage, said Baker County Sheriff Joey Dobson. (Watch brush fire close interstate near Sarasota, Florida )
In the Midwest, a wildfire near the Canadian border in northeastern Minnesota had burned 16,266 acres since it was spotted Saturday, destroying around 40 buildings, including multimillion-dollar mansions, and forcing more than 100 people to evacuate.
Authorities said they believe it started at a campsite just outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
"There are some houses up there where all there is left is the foundation," said Leif Lunde of the Cook County Sheriff's Department. No injuries were reported, but Lunde said about 30 of the burned buildings were homes or cabins; the rest were outbuildings.
POSTED: 8:06 a.m. EDT, May 9, 2007
Story Highlights• Two fires on Georgia-Florida line burn 130,000 acres
• Blaze in Okefenokee Swamp called largest in Georgia history
• Fire in Minnesota has destroyed 40 buildings, forced 100 to evacuate
• California fires in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange County, Camp Pendleton
Adjust font size:
(AP) -- While firefighters in Los Angeles struggled to control a fire in Griffith Park Wednesday, other wildfires raged in the Midwest and the Southeast.
One massive blaze in southeastern Georgia was being called the largest in state history.
In Los Angeles, cooler temperatures and dying winds were helping firefighters make progress early Wednesday against a fierce wildfire that torched hundreds of acres in the city's largest park, forcing famous landmarks and nearby homes to be evacuated. (Full story)
Elsewhere in the region, a 300-acre fire near California State University at San Bernardino, was 75 percent contained. There were no reports of damages or injuries.
In neighboring Orange County, a 140-acre fire in Featherly Regional Park was 70 percent contained and a 1,250-acre fire on a training range at Camp Pendleton was 80 percent contained.
On the other coast, authorities evacuated about 300 homes in northern Florida as two fires totaling 130,000 acres -- one-fifth of a square mile -- continued to rage on the Georgia-Florida line. Florida officials warned that they might soon need help if the blazes grow out of control.
A 107,000-acre blaze in Georgia's Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was called the largest blaze in state history and was nearing part of the park that has served as a fire crew command post. Another fire 10 miles away covered 40,000 acres.
The smaller fire crossed into Florida on Tuesday and was threatening Taylor, a small town with one store and no cell phone coverage, said Baker County Sheriff Joey Dobson. (Watch brush fire close interstate near Sarasota, Florida )
In the Midwest, a wildfire near the Canadian border in northeastern Minnesota had burned 16,266 acres since it was spotted Saturday, destroying around 40 buildings, including multimillion-dollar mansions, and forcing more than 100 people to evacuate.
Authorities said they believe it started at a campsite just outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
"There are some houses up there where all there is left is the foundation," said Leif Lunde of the Cook County Sheriff's Department. No injuries were reported, but Lunde said about 30 of the burned buildings were homes or cabins; the rest were outbuildings.