Southern California Wildfires A vicious firestorm has finally shown signs of weakening in Southern California, leaving exhausted firefighters a chance to rest and get some of the flames under control. Some evacuees are now returning to their neighborhoods, to learn the extent of the damage.

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Southern California Wildfires

Hopes for controlling the blazes now hinge on a change in the weather.

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Driveway Moments

Photo Captures Firefighters Ensnarled by Blaze

November 2, 2007 • California's recent wildfires produced many spectacular images, but perhaps none as dramatic and memorable as a Los Angeles Times photo of 12 firefighters trapped in a circle of smoke and flames.

Border Agents See Signs of Migrants Caught in Fires

October 30, 2007 • Across southern San Diego County, the wildfires have driven the Border Patrol out of the areas it normally monitors for illegal crossings. As the flames recede and border agents get back into those areas, they're getting a glimpse of how some immigrants got caught in the fires.

Latest Fires Provide Lessons in Prevention, Control

October 29, 2007 • As firefighters continue to rein in the many blazes that ravaged Southern California last week, officials take a cold, hard look at lessons learned from the disaster.

Poor Air Quality May Linger Long after Fire's Out

October 29, 2007 • The massive fires in Southern California have made for murky skies hundreds of miles away. Even though most of the fires will likely be under control this week, the air will be filled with smoke for much longer.

Winds Could Revive California Fires

October 29, 2007 • Even as firefighters look close to bringing a week of devastating fires under control in Southern California, forecasters warn that moderate winds could return in the next week to whip up the blazes.

Critics Fault Response to San Diego Fires

October 29, 2007 • A week after wildfires in southern California force a quarter-million residents to flee their homes, critics complain that mass evacuations were only necessary because San Diego's fire response wasn't up to the challenge. The fires are now largely under control.

Recovery Begins at San Diego's Scorched Orchards

October 28, 2007 • Wetter weather is in the forecast for San Diego — a relief to farmers. The California county is home to one of the nation's most expensive fruits — The Haas avocado — and some farmers are irritated that security prevented them from using their irrigation systems to save their orchards.

Wildfire Response Redemptive for Red Cross

October 27, 2007 • The American Red Cross was widely criticized for its poor response to victims of Hurricane Katrina. But it's been a different story in Southern California, where supplies and assistance arrived in abundance early on.

Fireproof Tents Save Crew Surrounded by Flames

October 27, 2007 • Capt. Doug Dodge of the Orange County Fire Authority came very close to death this week fighting the Santiago wildfire in Southern California. Dodge and his crew had to hunker down under fireproof tents when they became surrounded by flames on the side of a steep hillside.

Construction Boom to Follow California Wildfires

October 27, 2007 • The devastation caused by those massive wildfires in San Diego could have a positive impact on the local construction industry and the real estate business. Both have been sagging lately as San Diego's once red-hot housing market cooled.

Opinion

California Wildfire Victims Face Tallying Losses

October 27, 2007 • Now that southern California residents are returning to what's left of their homes (if there is anything), the next step will be the grim task of calculating their losses. Phone calls are pouring in to insurers, who are faced with covering much of the estimated $1 billion in property damage.

Woman Forced to Leave Horse Returns to Ranch

October 26, 2007 • Thousands of people who had evacuated their Southern California homes are now returning to see what, if anything, is left. Janet Sperber, who was forced to abandon a beloved horse, returns to her Ramona ranch and describes what she found.

2003 Fire Victims Reach Out to Help Others

October 26, 2007 • The massive Cedar fire in 2003 destroyed hundreds of homes in the San Diego area. Now, people who lost their homes in 2003 are providing both practical advice and inspiration to the victims of this week's devastating fires.

FEMA Apologizes for Phony Fire Briefing

October 26, 2007 • The Federal Emergency Management Agency is apologizing for holding a phony news conference on the California wildfires earlier this week in Washington, D.C. FEMA Deputy Administrator Harvey Johnson took questions from what seemed to be reporters, but it turns out they were FEMA staffers. Johnson now says FEMA made an "error in judgment."

Qualcomm Stadium's Stint as Fire Shelter Ends

October 26, 2007 • At the peak of San Diego's wildfires, Qualcomm Stadium served as a shelter for up to 10,000 evacuees. Now, the shelter is about to close, as people return to their homes — or what's left of them.

Homeowners Begin Tallying the Wildfire Damage

October 26, 2007 • As wildfires in Southern California continue to burn, thousands of evacuees have been allowed to return home. San Diego damage assessment teams are fanning out across the county to calculate the costs to homeowners.

Border Fires Offer Migrants Deadly Opportunity

October 26, 2007 • The second-largest wildfire in Southern California is still burning out of control along the U.S.-Mexico border. That's giving illegal immigrants a unique opportunity to cross the border at abandoned stations — but it could also mean death.

As Battle Continues, Many Fire Evacuees Go Home

October 26, 2007 • Even as residents around the San Diego are being allowed to go back home, crews are still fighting raging wildfires in Southern California. Of the 20 fires still burning, the Santiago fire in Orange County and at least two others are being treated as arson cases.

Tamara Keith of member station KQED reports on evacuees returning home for 'Day to Day'

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California Wildfire Victims Return to Charred Homes

October 26, 2007 • Rancho Bernardo, Calif., homeowners finally see damage caused by wildfires ravaging Southern California. Residents had to flee their homes before dawn as giant flames headed their way, giving them little time to take precious items.

Wildfires Renew Call for Fireproof Homes

October 26, 2007 • Activists and wildfire experts in southern California say it's time to force developers to build fire-resistant homes — with heat-resistant windows and lightweight concrete roofs. Government officials and insurance companies pledged do so four years ago.

KPBS Radio Covers Wildfires Using Many Sources

October 26, 2007 • San Diego public radio station KPBS informs listeners about the wildfires ravaging southern California through many sources. Though briefly knocked off the air, it was still a resource, adding maps of the fire and evacuation and shelter information to its Web site.