SAN DIEGO — As a dozen fires raged along the coast of Southern California Tuesday for a third day, San Diego County took the brunt of the wind-whipped fury that is driving more than a half million people into makeshift shelters, including 10,000 evacuees huddled in QualComm stadium. The wildfires, driven by fierce Santa Ana winds at gusts up to 70 mph, have burned more than 1,300 homes and businesses and 373,000 acres, or 583 square miles.
By midday, half of the fires — stretching from Los Angeles to the Mexican border — were deemed out of control, according to data from the governor's office. Only one was listed as at least 50% contained, and that was only a 300-acre fire in San Diego county. |