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Bush Declares Calif. Emergency

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 23, 2007 12:16 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Federal aid will soon be pouring into Southern California: President Bush today declared a state of emergency for the fire-scorched region. Wildfires ripping across seven counties have forced half a million people to evacuate. “We extend our prayers and our thoughts” to them, Bush said. Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff and FEMA officials will head to California today, the LA Times reports.

Arnold Schwarzenegger meanwhile begged neighboring states for assistance. Some 5,000 firefighters are already at work, Bloomberg reports, but constantly shifting winds make progress difficult. The AP reports more than 1,200 buildings have burned. In San Diego, many fear damage will eclipse the $1 billion wrought by 2003’s fires. “We've never seen anything like this,” the mayor said.

A fiireman sprays water along Santiago Canyon Rd. to stop the flame from jumping the road near Modjeska Canyon, in eastern Orange County, Calif. Wildfires blown by fierce desert winds Monday reduced hundreds of Southern California homes to ashes, forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee . (AP Photo/Daniel A....
A fiireman sprays water along Santiago Canyon Rd. to stop the flame from jumping the road near Modjeska Canyon, in eastern Orange County, Calif. Wildfires blown by fierce desert winds Monday reduced...   (Associated Press)
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, left, looks on while California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger,center, speaks to members of the media and people recently evacuated from their homes at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007. The stadium is being used as an evacuation center. (AP Photo/Chris Park)
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, left, looks on while California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger,center, speaks to members of the media and people recently evacuated from their homes at Qualcomm Stadium in San...   (Associated Press)
A Los Angeles County firefighting helicopter passes through the smoke of Stevenson Ranch wildfire after making a water drop in Valencia, Calif., north of Los Angeles, Monday, Oct 22, 2007. Hundreds of homes were reduced to ashes Monday as wildfires blown by fierce desert winds raced across a huge swath...
A Los Angeles County firefighting helicopter passes through the smoke of Stevenson Ranch wildfire after making a water drop in Valencia, Calif., north of Los Angeles, Monday, Oct 22, 2007. Hundreds of...   (Associated Press)
A Poway firefighter walks past a home as it burns Monday, Oct 22. 2007 in Poway, Calif. Wildfires blown by fierce desert winds Monday reduced scores of Southern California homes to ashes, forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
A Poway firefighter walks past a home as it burns Monday, Oct 22. 2007 in Poway, Calif. Wildfires blown by fierce desert winds Monday reduced scores of Southern California homes to ashes, forced hundreds...   (Associated Press)
President Bush walks to the stage prior to speaking at National Defense University's Distinguished Lecture Program during his visit to Eisenhower Hall Baruch Auditorium at Fort McNair in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Bush walks to the stage prior to speaking at National Defense University's Distinguished Lecture Program during his visit to Eisenhower Hall Baruch Auditorium at Fort McNair in Washington,...   (Associated Press)
A photo provided by the European Space Agency ESA on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007 shows the Envisat's MERIS image, acquired on Oct. 22, 2007, of desert winds blowing smoke from wildfires in Southern California. Sand is visible being blown from Mexicos Baja California Peninsula over the Gulf of California to...
A photo provided by the European Space Agency ESA on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007 shows the Envisat's MERIS image, acquired on Oct. 22, 2007, of desert winds blowing smoke from wildfires in Southern California....   (Associated Press)
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California • Arnold Schwarzenegger • Los Angeles • San Diego • Department of Homeland Security • Michael Chertoff • FEMA • Malibu • wildfires • state of emergency • George W. Bush

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