Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Winds Calming, Crews Fighting Flames in Southern California

Associated Press

   LOS ANGELES - Edwin Bernard, 73, is no stranger to flames that have
   frequently menaced his sunburned corner of Los Angeles, but they never
   arrived as quickly or came as close to his home before.

   Fire swept down the hill across the street and spit embers over his
   home of 30 years, sizzling through dry grass and igniting trees and
   bushes. He and his wife scrambled to go, leaving behind medication,
   photo albums and their four cats.

   "It was a whole curtain of fire," Bernard said. "There was fire on all
   sides. We had to leave."

   Bernard's home and the cats left inside survived -- barely. His
   backyard was charred.

   Bernard and his wife were among some 100,000 residents ordered out of
   their homes because of a wind-driven wildfire that broke out Thursday
   evening in the San Fernando Valley. It spread westward through
   tinder-dry brush in hilly subdivisions on the outskirts of the nation's
   second-largest city and was only 13% contained Friday night.

.