Hope none of our family is in danger by those fires.
Danger of careless smokers, what a waste.
Always made sure my cigs were out.

sage.. couldn't agree with you more.. MAN.. I've a healthy respect for
fire and TRIPLE check EVERYthing

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070509/ap_on_re_us/wildfires&printer=1;_ylt=A0WTUfMx0EFG0HkBGQBH2ocA




Wildfire blazes behind LA observatory By CHRISTINA ALMEIDA, Associated
Press Writer
2 hours, 3 minutes ago



Firefighters made progress early Wednesday against a wildfire blazing
over Dante's View in the brush-covered hills behind the city's iconic
Griffith Observatory. Animals at the nearby Los Angeles Zoo were moved
indoors, and dozens of homes were evacuated.

The 600-acre blaze in sprawling Griffith Park was just one firefighters
were battling across the nation. A wildfire in northern Minnesota has
already destroyed 40 homes and buildings, and brush fires in Georgia and
northern Florida have charred more than 200 square miles.

Overnight, five helicopters flew dangerous water-dropping missions in
Los Angeles, helping fire crews get the blaze about 40 percent
contained.

Griffith Park is a mix of wilderness, cultural sites, horse and hiking
trails and recreational facilities set on more than 4,000 acres in the
hills between Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley.

Visitors to its Greek Theatre, Observatory and the Museum of the
American West were told to leave. At the Autry National Center, which
includes a museum of Western artifacts, staff threw tarps over the
collections to protect them in case the sprinkler system went off, said
Faith Raiguel, chief operating officer.

The flames forced officials to put most of the Los Angeles Zoo's 1,200
animals inside holding quarters.

"So far the animals are faring fine," said Jason Jacobs, director of
marketing and public relations for the zoo. "I haven't heard any reports
of anything going wrong."

About 35 people who live near the park, out of an estimated 300
evacuated from nearby homes, checked in to an evacuation center at a
high school.

"I was just able to get a few things," said Ed Stephan, 83, who helped
his wife into their car as ashes fell from the sky. "We're not too
worried but want to get out of here and observe the law."

Authorities hoped residents would be able to return to their homes by
evening.

The fire destroyed Dante's View, a trailside terraced garden on Mount
Hollywood, said City Councilman Tom LaBonge.

"This is a very sad night for Los Angeles," he said.

Elsewhere in the region, a 300-acre fire near California State
University at San Bernardino was 75 percent contained. There were no
reports of damages or injuries.

In neighboring Orange County, a 140-acre fire in Featherly Regional Park
and a 1,250-acre fire on a training range at Camp Pendleton were at
least three-quarters contained.

On the East Coast, authorities evacuated about 300 homes in northern
Florida as two fires totaling 130,000 acres — about 203 square miles —
continued to rage on the Georgia-Florida line. Florida officials warned
that they might soon need help if the blazes grow out of control.

A 107,000-acre blaze in Georgia's Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
was called the largest blaze in state history and was nearing part of
the park that has served as a fire crew command post. Another fire 10
miles away covered 40,000 acres.

The smaller fire crossed into Florida on Tuesday and was threatening
Taylor, a small town with one store and no cell phone coverage, said
Baker County Sheriff Joey Dobson.

In the Midwest, a wildfire near the Canadian border in northeastern
Minnesota had burned 16,266 acres since it was spotted Saturday. It
destroyed around 40 buildings, including multimillion-dollar homes, and
forced more than 100 people to evacuate.

Authorities said they believe it started at a campsite just outside the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

"There are some houses up there where all there is left is the
foundation," said Leif Lunde of the Cook County Sheriff's Department. No
injuries were reported, but Lunde said about 30 of the burned buildings
were homes or cabins.

___

Associated Press writer Ron Word in Florida and Amy Forliti in Minnesota
contributed to this report.

___

On the Net:

National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov

(This version CORRECTS the size of the Georgia-Florida fires to 203
square miles.)

OMG!!! that 300acre one in San Bernardino is near the Ranch...

yeah, same here in fla..some idiot up near jaxsonville, 5 hours north of
me started a brush fire thru a cigeratte..needless to say hes in
jail..they r really crackin down on that here..its considered a felony
now..up to $1,000 fine, plus some time in jail..fire or no fire..im a
smoker too..but ever hear of an ashtray??? gezzzzzzzzzz, some people
have no brains..

correction, im sorry $5,000 fine or more for tossin a cig out the
window here in FLA.

Yeah my dad's working right near the one in Griffth Park (down in LA) so
he keeps me informed. Stupid people wouldn't leave their homes though!
Shows you how materialistic some people can be, your life vs you
personal objects! Duh!