So. Cal. Wildfires: Sept. 28-29

Smoke from wildfires in western Los Angeles County and Ventura County, Calif., are seen from the Chatsworth section of Los Angeles on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005.The wind-whipped wildfire grew rapidly north of Los Angeles, threatening hundreds of homes and forcing evacuations as firefighters worked under hot, dry conditions.

A helicopter makes a water drop along a ridge burning behind a home in the Bell Canyon area of southern Ventura County, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005. The wind-whipped wildfire grew rapidly north of Los Angeles, threatening hundreds of homes and forcing evacuations as firefighters worked under hot, dry conditions.

A U.S. Forest Service air tanker drops fire retardant near a fire burning toward homes, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005, in Oak Park, Calif.

Vehicles sit smoldering from a wildfire in Simi Valley Calif., Thursday, Sept 29, 2005. Wind-whipped brush fires scorched more than 5,500 acres in Southern California, with the worst blaze raging out of control early Thursday in a ridge of flames that was visible for miles.

Los Angeles County firefighters protect a home from an approaching wildfire in the early morning hours of Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005, in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles. Wind-driven brush fires are ringing huge areas of Southern California. Thousands of acres across four counties have been scorched.

Fire personal back away as a flame shoots towards them on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005, in the Chatsworth section of Los Angeles. The blaze, which began midafternoon, hopscotched the 118 Freeway and threatened homes in densely wooded Box and Bell canyons where mandatory evacuations were in place.

Flames from a wildfire burn near the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005. The blaze, which began in midafternoon, hopscotched along the 118 Freeway and threatened homes in the densely wooded Box and Bell canyons and a trailer park where mandatory evacuations were in place.

Biker Mike Brazeal stops to observe an approaching wildfire in Simi Valley, Calif., on Wednesday Sept. 28, 2005.

Pup In Peril — AP Photo/Los Angeles Daily News

A woman carries her dog while evacuating from Woolsey Canyon on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005, near the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles because of the advancing Chatsworth fire.

Eastbound traffic on the 118 Freeway in Simi Valley, Calif., sits at a standstill during a freeway closure because of a wildfire on Wednesday Sept. 28, 2005.

Students make their way across Alscott Avenue near White Oak Elementary school in Chatsworth, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005, as smoke from the fire in Chatsworth is seen. Fire officials say the Chatsworth fire in the west end of the San Fernando Valley has grown to 1,000 acres and the fire near Calimesa in Riverside County has blackened 1,300 acres.

A helicopter drops water on a fire burning in Moorpark, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005. Wind-driven brush fires burned on the wildland fringe of Los Angeles and in three other counties Wednesday, scorching a total of nearly 2,500 acres and destroying at least one home while threatening others.

Ernie Bergmann, 54, uses a garden hose to wet down an area outside of a home where he rents a room in Moorpark, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005.

Fire crews clean up after a brush fire fueled by high winds burned about 100 acres in the Brown's Canyon area in Chatsworth, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005. No structure losses or injuries were reported in the 100-acre blaze, said Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Ron Haralson.

A home at the intersection of Box Canyon Road and Santa Susana Road is destroyed by a wind-driven brush fire that started on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005, in the Chatsworth section of Los Angeles. A voluntary evacuation was ordered in Box Canyon and a freeway was closed as the blaze hopscotched the roadway and burned at the west end of the San Fernando Valley.

Flames continue to erupt from a residence near burned-out vehicles after the area was hit by a wildfire on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005, in Chatsworth, Calif.

June Matthews worries about leaving her birds behind after being told to evacuate her Box Canyon house ahead of a wildfire burning nearby on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005, near Chatsworth, Calif.

Residents gather near a closed intersection during a brush fire that lead to evacuations and road closures Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005, in the Chatsworth section of Los Angeles, Calif. A voluntary evacuation was ordered in Box Canyon and a freeway was closed as the blaze hopscotched the roadway and burned at the west end of the San Fernando Valley.

A home just off Santa Susana Road is engulfed in flames from a brush fire that started on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005, in the Chatsworth section of Los Angeles. The blaze, which began midafternoon, hopscotched the 118 Freeway and threatened homes in Box Canyon and a trailer park in another canyon where mandatory evacuations were in place.

Firefighters prepare to battle flames that jumped the 118 freeway near Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Chatsworth, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005. Wind-driven brush fires burned on the wildland fringe of Los Angeles and in three other counties Wednesday, scorching a total of more than 2,700 acres.