Dry winds ease in California

SAN DIEGO -- Ash fell on the beach like snow and drivers turned on their headlights in the smoky daytime streets Monday as wildfires that have reduced entire neighborhoods to moonscapes swept through the hills of Southern California and threatened 30,000 more homes.

California's deadliest outbreak of fires in more than a decade has destroyed at least 1,134 homes, killed at least 15 people and consumed more than 483,000 acres stretching from the Mexican border to the suburbs northeast of Los Angeles.

The hot, dry Santa Ana winds that have fanned the flames began to ease Monday, raising hopes that overwhelmed firefighters could make progress with the help of reinforcements on their way from other Western states. But the danger was still high.

President Bush designated the fire-stricken region a major disaster area, opening the door to grants, loans and other aid to residents and businesses in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties.

Gov. Gray Davis moved to activate the National Guard and summon help from neighboring states. He predicted the cost of the fires would be in the billions.

"This will be the most expensive fire in California history, both in loss of property and the cost of fighting it," Dallas Jones, director of the state Office of Emergency Services, said Monday.

The death toll jumped from 13 to 15 Monday after the bodies of two people were found on a road near San Diego.

Several people suffered burns and smoke inhalation, including eight hospitalized at the University of California, San Diego, Medical Center. Two had burns over more than 55 percent of their bodies, spokeswoman Eileen Callahan said.

Managers of California's power grid estimated that 70,000 to 85,000 Southern California customers were without electricity because fires had damaged transmission lines.

'My eyes are burning'

Across Southern California, the sun glowed red and smoke stung the eyes and lungs. Airport baggage handlers wore masks against the smoke and the ash dropping across the landscape.

"My eyes are burning right now something terrible," said 74-year-old Maury Glantz in San Diego, holding a towel over his mouth and nose. "I have to get out."

Many of those who died in the wildfires ignored evacuation orders and were caught by flames because they waited until the last minute to flee, Sheriff Bill Kolender said.

"When you are asked to leave, do it immediately," he said. "Do not wait."

San Diego fire chief Jeff Bowman said he was worried that three fires that incinerated 585 homes in San Diego County would merge, pushing already strained resources to the breaking point.

"We feel very good because the weather has worked with us and not against us," he said on Monday.

Some hotspots flared, but authorities said the winds that had driven the flames erratically for days appeared to be easing.

Los Angeles fire chief William Bamattre said firefighters were seizing the opportunity to finally go on the attack after being on the defensive for days.

However, gusts of up to 45 mph were still possible in canyons, and homes throughout the region remained in danger because of high temperatures, low humidity and millions of dead trees from an infestation of bark beetles.

'Could almost taste fire'

A state of emergency was declared in the four stricken counties, where the fires had laid waste to entire blocks of homes, closed major highways, shutter schools, disrupted air travel nationwide and sent people running for their lives.

People were told to stay indoors because of the smoky air, and hospitals treated a number of people who complained of breathing trouble.

"You could almost smell the smoke and you could almost taste fire," said Leilani Baker, 46, of San Diego. She was sitting at a bus stop, her shoulders covered with ash.

Nine people were killed by the so-called Cedar Fire, California's largest blaze at 150,000 acres. The fire was ignited Saturday near the mountain town of Julian when a lost hunter set off a signal fire, authorities said. The hunter may face charges.

In San Bernardino County, a blaze called the Old Fire has destroyed more than 450 homes. On Monday, the flames jumped a road and moved into the heavily forested small town of Crestline.

A major fire burning closer to Los Angeles is believed to have been started by arsonists.

"Those who start these fires are no better than domestic terrorists and should be dealt with as such," said Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley.

The arsonists "have no idea how many lives they've ruined," said Trisha Mitchell, standing amid the debris that was once her childhood home in San Bernardino.