On The Fire Lines

A San Bernardino city firefighter wipes his eyes as firefighters try to prevent a fire from jumping Highway 18 on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007, in Running Springs, Calif. Southern California is being ravaged by numerous wildfires as Santa Ana Wind conditions push them into communities. The fires are shaping up to be the worst wildfire event in San Diego County history.

A U.S. forestry firefighter throws water on a burning home to protect a nearby structure in Deerhorn Valley as the Harris Fire continued growing beyond 70,000 acres on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007, near Jamul, Calif.

A firefighter sprays water in a torrent of hot ambers blown back at him and his team by the wind as they try unsuccessfully to prevent flames from the Harris Fire from crossing the road in Jamul, in California's San Diego County early Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. Wildfires in southern California have forced nearly one million people to flee their homes.

A California Department of Forestry firefighter attempts to extinguish hot spots burning near homes on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007, in Running Springs, Calif.

A message of thanks to firefighters is posted on the Del Dios Highway near Escondido in California's San Diego Country, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2007. Wildfires in Southern California have forced nearly one million people to flee their homes.

Running Springs Fire Dept. firefighter Nick Ellsberg covers his face as he is surrounded by smoke from a wildfire in Running Springs, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007.

Los Angeles County Fire fighters battle a brushfire near homes Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007, in Newhall, Calif. Strong Santa Ana winds are making conditions especially difficult for firefighters during the driest season on record.

Firefighters watch carefully as a wildfire burns downhill towards the 6,000 acre Rancho Temescal in Piru, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. No structures were lost on the ranch. Thousdands of firefighters have battled more than a dozen wind-whipped blazes that have charred Southern California. (James Glover II/www.venturacountystar.com)

Firefighters battle a blaze as it burns on the 6,000 acre Rancho Temescal in Piru, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. (James Glover II/www.venturacountystar.com)

A San Bernardino city firefighter keeps an eye on a wind driven Martin Ranch Fire Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007, in northern San Bernardino, Calif.

A firefighter walks along a back fire on a hillside in Jamul, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. Deadly, wind-whipped wildfires triggered the largest evacuation in state history, with people fleeing ahead of flames that have destroyed more than 1,600 homes and continued to threaten tens of thousands more.

A San Bernardino city firefighter sets a back fire on the Martin Ranch Fire Tuesday Oct. 23, 2007, in the northern part of San Bernardino Calif.

A firefighter works the Meadow Ridge Fire in Newhall, Calif. Tuesday, October 23, 2007. Fires in California have prompted the biggest evacuation in California history, from north of Los Angeles, through San Diego to the Mexican border.

U.S. Forest Service firefighter Eric Solomon retreats to his truck after dousing a house with water as other homes go up in flames early Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007, in Running Springs, Calif.

A firefighter battles a wildfire in hills below Running Springs, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007, as the Santa Ana wind-driven wildfire charged toward the mountain town in the San Bernardino mountains.

Nick Atkins, of the U.S. Dept. of Forestry hoses down a burning cottage in Fredalba, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007.

Firefighter Richard Valenzuela from the Yuma Fire department in Yuma, Ariz., rests on the front bumper of his fire truck in Running Springs, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007, after battling the wildfires which destroyed several homes overnight in the mountain community.

Firefighters from Yuma, Ariz., rest on the front lawn of the California Highway Patrol station in Running Springs, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007, after battling the wind whipped wildfire which destroyed several homes overnight in the mountain community.

A Firefighter from the Orange County Fire department sets a back fire on a 3800 acre brush fire near Irvine, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007.