[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

I heard that the inside of homes smell like fire. I hope that you and your family remain safe. These fires are far beyond anything I could ever have imagined. The closest anyone in my family is to the fires is Palm Springs and the rest are all in the Bay area. The only thing we worry about is earthquakes.

[lodwick]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush says fires raging in southern California are a disaster, a declaration that frees up federal funds to help those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed in the blazes.

At least 13 people have been killed in the fires and some 850 homes have been destroyed. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes.

San Diego and San Bernardino counties, both in the southern part of the state, have been the hardest hit.

Federal funds will be made available to people in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties, the White House said in a statement on Monday.