California's Long Road To Recovery
By: Nicole Culver
Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The fires that began Oct. 21 in the Southern
California region have burned approximately
300,000 acres and have caused an estimated
$42 billion in residential property damage.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California has declared a state of emergency due to the fires that have devastated the Southern California coast.
A ten-year-old boy recently came forward and admitted to starting the fires that began in Agua Dulce , Calif. and spread south. The boy said he had been playing with matches
when he started the fire. Still, authorities now have to decide his punishment or whether he will be charged at all.
But authorities have a reason to believe that there was someone else involved in the fires. According to Los Angeles
County firefighter Bobby Conti, the second suspect was an unidentified male who he described as a fireman want to be. Conti stated that when the fires started, the suspect was the first one at the scene, and that he tried to impersonate a firefighter. "He had fireman attire and a hose," Conti said.
Once the fires started, it was hard to get them to stop. The Southern California blazes have killed 14 people so far. Conti
said the Santa Ana winds, near Los Angeles , caused the fires to spread down to Los Angeles , San Bernardino , Orange
, Santa Barbara , Riverside , Ventura , and Malibu counties.
"There has been no rain for a year and a half. Nothing could've stopped these fires," Conti said, adding that Santa Ana's seasonal winds create the perfect weather for fires.
"This is the worst brush fire of this day in the nation," Conti suggested, adding that there hasn't been a fire this bad since the 1800s.
San Diego suffered the most damage. What is known as the Qualcomm Stadium, home to the San Diego Chargers, has become home to more than half a million fire victims and evacuees. Fifteen thousand people have been sheltered at the stadium, as well as Red Crosses and race tracks.
But not everyone wanted to leave their homes. Several people
decided to remain in their homes, which took away from the firefighters' ability to put out fires. "Some people have lived in their homes for 75 years and have survived fires before,
but they might not always be so lucky," Conti revealed.The fires have also affected California's economy. Local attractions like Sea World in San Diego have been forced to temporarily shut down, along with other businesses. The fires are costing California's economy about $45 million
a day. But, experts believe there will not be a long-term effect on the state's funds or the country as a whole.
California region have burned approximately
300,000 acres and have caused an estimated
$42 billion in residential property damage.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California has declared a state of emergency due to the fires that have devastated the Southern California coast.
A ten-year-old boy recently came forward and admitted to starting the fires that began in Agua Dulce , Calif. and spread south. The boy said he had been playing with matches
when he started the fire. Still, authorities now have to decide his punishment or whether he will be charged at all.
But authorities have a reason to believe that there was someone else involved in the fires. According to Los Angeles
County firefighter Bobby Conti, the second suspect was an unidentified male who he described as a fireman want to be. Conti stated that when the fires started, the suspect was the first one at the scene, and that he tried to impersonate a firefighter. "He had fireman attire and a hose," Conti said.
Once the fires started, it was hard to get them to stop. The Southern California blazes have killed 14 people so far. Conti
said the Santa Ana winds, near Los Angeles , caused the fires to spread down to Los Angeles , San Bernardino , Orange
, Santa Barbara , Riverside , Ventura , and Malibu counties.
"There has been no rain for a year and a half. Nothing could've stopped these fires," Conti said, adding that Santa Ana's seasonal winds create the perfect weather for fires.
"This is the worst brush fire of this day in the nation," Conti suggested, adding that there hasn't been a fire this bad since the 1800s.
San Diego suffered the most damage. What is known as the Qualcomm Stadium, home to the San Diego Chargers, has become home to more than half a million fire victims and evacuees. Fifteen thousand people have been sheltered at the stadium, as well as Red Crosses and race tracks.
But not everyone wanted to leave their homes. Several people
decided to remain in their homes, which took away from the firefighters' ability to put out fires. "Some people have lived in their homes for 75 years and have survived fires before,
but they might not always be so lucky," Conti revealed.The fires have also affected California's economy. Local attractions like Sea World in San Diego have been forced to temporarily shut down, along with other businesses. The fires are costing California's economy about $45 million
a day. But, experts believe there will not be a long-term effect on the state's funds or the country as a whole.
