2nd Wildfire Death Confirmed

Hundreds of thousands flee; blazes consume 1K+ homes
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 23, 2007 4:37 PM CDT
2nd Wildfire Death Confirmed
Hand crews cut foliage to create a fire break between unburned areas, rear, and burned areas, foreground, to prevent embers from igniting the material as high winds continue to blow in the Saddle Peak area of the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)   (Associated Press)

A second person has died in the rampant wildfires that have forced 500,000 San Diego County residents to evacuate, the Forest Service announced, offering no details. Firefighters fear some of the larger blazes may coalesce into a monster they would have insufficient resources to stop, CNN reports. So far more than 1,300 homes have been incinerated.

"It will not end until it reaches the ocean or the winds turn around," said the San Diego fire chief. No change in the winds driving the fires is expected until late Thursday. Five of San Diego's 23 emergency shelters are full, and National Guard troops have been posted at the Chargers' Qualcomm Stadium, an impromptu shelter for 10,000 evacuees. (More California stories.)

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