GROUNDREPORT ON THE GROUND: Groundreporter Wendy Stackhouse is in Van Nuys, CA at a girl scount event which is about 18 miles away from the scene of the wildfires. She says that see can see the smoke from that distance althought it is quite a distance from her house. She was kind enough to take time from her event to shoot video from her cell phone and can be viewed at http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/share.do?invite=jEGr2WP22z7vV5JU8otU&shareName=MMS&messageState=RETRIEVED
7:43 PM EST: Wendy Stackhouse is left the camp and she sent us ore video of the fires and know she says as she gets closer– the hills are heardly visible. That video is available at http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/share.do?invite=vEjr2PPD275coksha0sk&shareName=MMS&messageState=RETRIEVED
We will see you later, if needed, when needed as we continue to monitor this tense and developing situation.
THE STORY: Hundreds of homes were feared destroyed and 10,000 people were forced to flee as ferocious wind-driven fires blazed across California on Saturday, authorities said.
A state of emergency was declared across Los Angeles County after a fire which broke out late Friday roared through hills and communities near the suburb of Sylmar, fuelled by winds of At least 2,600 acres have been destroyed and 10,000 people evacuated from the areas near the blaze on the northern outskirts of the city.up to 80 miles per hour.
Hundreds of firefighters using helicopters, bulldozers and engines were battling the fire, attempting to halt its advance.
One of the worst hit areas was a 600-residence mobile home park that suffered "total devastation."
Four people, including three firefighters, had suffered injuries in the fire. The cause of the fire was not known.
Around 1,000 more homes continued to be threatened by the fire, said Ruda, clutching a partially burned and tattered American flag that had been retrieved from a home consumed by the inferno.