Agonizing game of hit and miss

Haya El Nasser

10/28/1993

USA Today

FINAL

Page 03A

LOS ANGELES - In the suburb of Altadena, a panicked woman screams out for

her husband through dense smoke.

Residents all around flee seconds before raging fires swallow their homes.

Luxury homes are consumed by fire within minutes. Firefighters are rushed to

emergency burn units. Nursing homes, hospitals and schools are evacuated.

Traffic snarls freeways as gusty winds drop ashes and blow choking smoke.

Hellish images of destruction flickered live on TV across the nation as more than

100 wildfires roared through southern California Wednesday.

"There were these hot fiery embers as big as half-dollars raining down all over

us," says Jeremy Putinta, 21, who stayed up all night helping a friend hose down

his roof and shrubbery in Thousand Oaks. "It was the weirdest thing I've ever

been in."

The erratic blazes - fanned by Santa Ana winds of up to 70 mph - played a cruel

game of tag with thousands of homes in hilly areas from Ventura County to the

border with Mexico. The fires - some set on purpose, some accidental - torched

some houses but spared homes on either side.

Ranchers frantically tried to rescue horses and livestock as flames chased deer

and rabbits from crispy-dry brush onto the Pacific Coast Highway. The smell of

burned eucalyptus wafted through neighborhoods.

"They said, `It's coming up the canyon! It's coming up the canyon!' " says Sandra

Bohlen, who fled her three-bedroom Altadena house seconds before it was

swallowed by flames. "We just got out of there as fast as we could. I have

nothing but what I'm wearing."

More than 320 homes and buildings were destroyed, and at least 24 people - 16

firefighters - were injured. The blazes threatened ranches and luxury homes

owned by celebrities Tom Selleck, Richard Widmark and moonwalking astronaut

Buzz Aldrin.

Fires also interrupted power to hundreds of homes.

"This fire is giving us hell," says Los Angeles County firefighter Rob Salinas,

battling the Altadena fire. "As soon as you think you've chopped it down in one

place, it comes up somewhere else."

Among the hardest hit: the surfers' paradise city of Laguna Beach, where at least

200 homes were destroyed in less than two hours.

Early today thousands of homes in the heavily populated Sierra Madre area also

were threatened as fires roared dangerously close.

In Altadena, century-old homes were burning at an astounding pace of one every

five minutes at some point.

The inferno is the worst wildfire in California since the disastrous Oakland blaze

of October 1991. The Oakland fire destroyed 3,200 homes and took the lives of

25 people, at a cost of $1.5 billion.

"Everything, my whole life, it's gone," says a sobbing Edith Brown, watching the

smoldering remains of her four-bedroom home at the foot of San Gabriel

Mountains. "I didn't get anything out at all."

Similar refrains echoed throughout as hot spots erupted every few minutes.

With so many fires erupting, fire departments from across California had a

difficult time getting crews and equipment quickly to places like Altadena, says

Los Angeles County deputy fire chief Paul Blackburn. But winds were so strong

that added manpower might not have made much difference.

"We would have needed one firetruck at every house, and there aren't that many

firetrucks in the state of California," Blackburn says.

A shortage of water and low water pressure added to woes as tanker trucks were

forced to fill up from swimming pools.

One of the most harrowing images was of patients evacuated from a nursing

home lying on cots like war survivors, one man gasping for breath, another with

an oxygen tube dangling from his nose.

Floyd Loupot woke up at 5:45 a.m. and saw a glow over the ridge above his

house. He roused his neighbors and packed up some legal papers and a handful

of valuables. Just as he loaded his car, a tree next to his house ignited.

"Then I knew we were in trouble," says Loupot, 71, standing in the middle of

what used to be his living room. Everything was destroyed.

"If I were a younger man I'd think about rebuilding," he says. "I'm just not sure

now."

Clarissa Winslow and her husband were jolted awake at 6 a.m. when their real

estate agent called to warn them.

"We opened up the door to our deck, and all we could see were red flames and

smoke," says Winslow. Contributing: Jonathan T. Lovitt , Vic Pollard and Sally

Ann Stewart

California wildfires at a glance: More than 100 fires, including at least 13 large

blazes, were spreading late Wednesday in California. The toll at that point: more

than 62,000 acres and at least 320 homes and other buildings. At least 24 people

had been injured, including 16 firefighters. Some of the major fires: Guejito

More than 6,000 acres burning since early Wednesday. More than 6,000 acres

burning since early Wednesday. Fire out of control. Five homes, several

outbuildings damaged, destroyed.

Yucaipa-Mentone More than 4,680 acres burning since early Wednesday. About

60% contained. Four homes and one barn destroyed. One home damaged by

downed power lines.

Thousand Oaks About 18,000 acres burning since Tuesday. At least 18 homes,

several mobile homes and outbuildings burned. Two firefighters injured. Caused

by arson.

Southwest Riverside County More than 11,500 acres burning since late

Wednesday. About 30% contained. At least 39 homes damaged, destroyed. Five

civilians, one firefighter injured.

Laguna Beach At least 200 homes, many costing more than $1 million,

destroyed. All 24,500 residents evacuated. Flames consumed block after block

Wednesday evening.

Altadena About 5,000 acres burning since early Wednesday. Out of control. Up

to 75 structures damaged, destroyed. Firefighter treated for smoke inhalation.

About 500 homes evacuated.

GRAPHIC,b/w,Stephen Conley, USA TODAY , USA TODAY research,The

Associated Press(Map,S. Calif.,L.A.,chart); PHOTO,b/w,Paul Sakuma,AP;

PHOTO,b/w,Bob Riha Jr.,Gamma-Liaison