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The Lucky Find Homes, but No Water, Power

Returning SoCal residents face weeks of hardships

By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 27, 2007 6:24 AM CDT

(Newser) – Thousands of Southern California residents have returned to their homes—those fortunate enough to find them standing—to find no electricity and no drinking water, with town reservoirs drained to fight fires, and air choked with smoke and ash. The threat of changing weather also looms: the hot winds that fueled the fires are predicted to return tomorrow, ending the lull that allowed firefighters to battle back the blazes.

Firefighters are scrambling to contain the remaining fires while the favorable weather holds. "We want to take advantage of the conditions while we have them," one fire marshal said.  Qualcomm Stadium, which had housed 10,000 refugees, was being emptied out for Sunday's  game between the San Diego Chargers and Houston Texans.

United States Postal Service carrier Tracy Beard, left, wears a mask as she delivers mail personally to resident David Crane, right, who lost his home, seen in the background, in the Rancho Bernardo area of San Diego, Calif. Friday, Oct. 26, 2007, after the Witch fire destroyed it earlier in...
United States Postal Service carrier Tracy Beard, left, wears a mask as she delivers mail personally to resident David Crane, right, who lost his home, seen in the background, in the Rancho Bernardo area...   (Associated Press)
Home owner Tony Heinrichs looks down at his recovered tool boxes found inside his destroyed home in the Rancho Bernardo area of San Diego, Calif. Friday, Oct. 26, 2007, after the Witch fire destroyed it earlier in the week. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Home owner Tony Heinrichs looks down at his recovered tool boxes found inside his destroyed home in the Rancho Bernardo area of San Diego, Calif. Friday, Oct. 26, 2007, after the Witch fire destroyed...   (Associated Press)
Home owner Khosrow Motamedi holds a burned out gold watch, as a crew of young volunteers from The Anchor Church Pentecostal church help him dig through the rubble of his destroyed home in the Rancho Bernardo area of San Diego, Calif. Friday, Oct. 26, 2007, after the Witch fire destroyed...
Home owner Khosrow Motamedi holds a burned out gold watch, as a crew of young volunteers from The Anchor Church Pentecostal church help him dig through the rubble of his destroyed home in the Rancho Bernardo...   (Associated Press)
Los Angeles Firemen monitor a wildfire burning in the Cleveland National Forest Friday, Oct. 26, 2007, near Silverado, Calif. The fire fighters are in Silverado Canyon which has been evacuated. (AP Photo/Ric Francis)
Los Angeles Firemen monitor a wildfire burning in the Cleveland National Forest Friday, Oct. 26, 2007, near Silverado, Calif. The fire fighters are in Silverado Canyon which has been evacuated. (AP Photo/Ric...   (Associated Press)
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