Posted on 10/26/2006 11:42:04 AM PDT by radar101
CABAZON, Calif. - Three firefighters were killed and two critically injured Thursday battling a wind-whipped wildfire that drove hundreds of people from their homes.
The firefighters were killed attempting to protect a home early Thursday from the flames that broke out shortly after 1 a.m. in this community near Palm Springs, 90 miles east of Los Angeles.
A Forest Service spokesman said the firefighters were trapped in their fire engines when high winds suddenly pushed the flames over them.
"The engine was in the area and with the wind conditions like they were, the fire just overtakes and burns the entire engine," said Pat Boss, a U.S. Forest Service spokesman. "They were trapped within the engine."
In response, all U.S. Forest Service personnel were pulled off the fire, Boss said, so that they could "gather their thoughts, say their prayers."
The fire, pushed by dry Santa Ana Winds of 25 mph or more, quickly blackened more than 4,000 acres and destroyed at least three homes. At least one civilian was also injured.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Prayers for the injured & the families of the dead. The 2003 Cedar fire here in San Diego seems like yesterday.
I lived in Laguna Beach back in early 90's, a terrible fire killed several fire fighters the same way.
It's a horrible thing to have happened.
Incredibly brave people fight these fires - and the fires can move at incredible speeds.
Awful news.
Now upto four....
Bad news re losing the firefighters; their engine was suddenly set ablaze. Two others were also critically injured, i.e., badly burned. Terrible.
This is also of concern:
Thick smoke blanketed the small RV park off Highway 243, where as many as 400 people were trapped, authorities said. TV footage showed some vehicles racing through flames and smoke just before firefighters closed the road.
Check out rim of the world for updates:
http://www.rimoftheworld.net/incident/2795
Now 4 firefighters have died in this arson-set blaze. There's another thread on the update.
Yes.
Started by a pyromaniac.Typical.
Glad I don't live in California anymore.
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