BLAZES STILL RAGING
So. Cal. woe spreads
Weary firefighters continued to battle six major blazes across Southern California on Friday — including one in San Diego County that burned at least three people and left dozens of homes in ruins.
So far, the wind-driven fires have engulfed 141,000 acres, destroyed more than 500 structures and sent 212,000 people fleeing from their homes.
The blaze in northern San Diego County — called the Lilac wildfire — broke out Thursday, torching 4,100 acres by nightfall and wreaking havoc on rural communities.
Three people were burned as they tried to escape, fire officials said.
“The crews were trying to stay out ahead of this as quickly as they could,” said Capt. Kendal Bortisser of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention. “As we know, when a tornado hits the Midwest, there’s no stopping it. When a hurricane hits the East Coast, there’s no stopping it. When Santa Ana winds come in, there’s no stopping them.”
Cynthia Olvera, 20, said she fled with family members after her dad called to say the flames had already reached the gate of their property. They turned back when they realized they’d forgotten some personal documents — but by then the fire was within 10 feet of their house.
“I didn’t think it would move that fast,” she said.
Some 30 thoroughbred horses died in the Lilac inferno when flames reached the elite San Luis Rey Downs training facility.
“We tried to keep up with it, stomping on embers and using the hose, but it just started coming so fast that we just couldn’t stay with it,” trainer Linda Thrash told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “Eventually, we just had to turn them loose. There was not time to do anything else.”
Photos showed horses galloping past burning palm trees. “We almost got trampled to death,” trainer Kim Marrs said. “One gal got knocked down. I thought she was going to get crushed. You just had to stand there and pray they didn’t hit you.”
Red-flag conditions — a combination of high winds and low humidity — will remain through Sunday, but the punishing winds were calmer Friday, said fire officials.