A Timeline of Fires:

The Associated Press
Article Launched: 10/27/2007 03:26:27 PM PDT

A week of wildfires in Southern California:

Saturday, Oct. 20
— 9:42 p.m. Ranch fire breaks out in the Angeles National Forest in
northeast Los Angeles County near the town of Piru. Santa Ana winds
clocking 50 mph soon whip it into a 500-acre blaze.

— The National Weather Service clocks wind gusts of 108 mph at
Whitaker Peak near Tejon Pass, with gusts of 85 mph common below
mountain passes and canyons.

Sunday, Oct. 21
— 4:50 a.m. Canyon fire starts in Malibu. Investigators suspect downed
powerlines are the cause. Fueled by gusts of dry wind, flames force
about 1,500 people to evacuate and tear through 1,200 acres of dry
brush and posh neighborhoods by the end of the day.

— 9:23 a.m. Harris fire starts in eastern San Diego County. Before the
end of the day it injures four firefighters and 10 civilians, and leaves
one person dead.

— 12:37 p.m. Witch Creek fire starts. Within 12 hours, it chars more
than 5,000 acres in northern San Diego County and forces the
evacuation of Ramona.

— 5:55 p.m. The Santiago fire is reported near Silverado Canyon in
Orange County. Inspectors later say an arsonist started three separate
fires along the 241 toll road in south Orange County.

— 6 p.m. Buckweed fire starts near Agua Dulce in northeastern Los
Angeles County. It injures three people, destroys nearly 10 structures
and scorches 16 square miles.

— The Harris fire claims its first victim, later identified by the San
Diego County medical examiner's office as Thomas Varshock, 52, of
Tecate.

Monday, Oct. 22
— 4:16 a.m. Downed powerlines ignite the Rice fire in eastern San
Diego County, soon forcing 45,000 people to evacuate.

— 5:08 a.m. Grass Valley fire starts near Lake Arrowhead in the San
Bernardino Mountains and destroys 113 homes.

— 8:02 a.m. The Slide fire is reported in the San Bernardino Mountains
near Lake Arrowhead and consumes more than 1,500 acres and 20
structures by the end of the day.

— Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger tours Malibu where six homes were
lost and declares a state of emergency in seven counties, opening the
way for government aid.

— 11:38 a.m. The Cajon fire burns 250 acres before being contained.

— About 10,000 evacuees arrive at Qualcomm Stadium, where the San
Diego Chargers play football.

— 2:17 p.m. An accident at a construction site ignites a fire near the
Magic Mountain theme park in the Santa Clarita Valley. It burns about
1,000 acres in a couple hours.

— In San Diego County, the worst-hit area, authorities placed reverse
911 calls to some 346,000 homes, warning people to evacuate.
Tuesday, Oct. 23

— 3:13 a.m. The Poomacha fire breaks out near Highway 76 in Pauma
Valley in San Diego County.

— President Bush declares a federal emergency for the seven-county
region, speeding federal disaster relief.

— 9:23 a.m. The Horno/Ammo fire starts on the Camp Pendleton
Marine Base.

— Shortly after nightfall, officials announce 500 homes and 100
businesses have been destroyed in northern San Diego County.

— Authorities begin to lift evacuation orders on the Poway, Scripps
Ranch and Del Mar Heights neighborhoods of San Diego.

— Los Angeles County fire officials lift evacuation orders in Malibu and
reopen Pacific Coast Highway.

Wednesday, Oct. 24
— In the late afternoon, Los Angeles County firefighters declare the
Buckweed, Magic and Canyon fires contained.

— The Santa Ana winds decrease to between 21 to 36 mph, allowing
aircraft to assist the firefighting effort.

— Federal agents join the search for evidence of arson in the Orange
County Hills.

— Power officials ask San Diego residents to conserve electricity
because the fires brought down a key transmission line.

— Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff tours the evacuation
center at Qualcomm Stadium.

— Residents return to the San Diego County cities of Carlsbad, Chula
Vista, Del Mar, Encinitas and Solana Beach, while officials issue new
evacuation orders for other parts of the county.

Thursday, Oct. 25
— Recovery crews find the bodies of two more people believed to have
been killed by fires near Poway, north of San Diego.

— President Bush takes an aerial tour of the burn areas and meets with
people in Rancho Bernardo who lost their homes.

— Late in the day, authorities announce that four charred bodies were
found in an area near the Mexican border that is a popular crossing for
illegal aliens entering the United States.

— Winds continue to ease and temperatures drop, helping firefighters.

Friday, Oct. 26
— Mandatory evacuation orders are lifted for most residential areas of
San Diego.

— The evacuation center at Qualcomm Stadium closes at noon.

Saturday, Oct. 27
— Cooler temperatures and occasional light rain in some areas
continue to help firefighters.

— Authorities confirm that the four charred bodies found near the
Mexican border on Thursday were killed by flames, bringing the death
count to seven.

Maranatha!
Deborah
* * .(\ *** /).*. *
* (\ (_) /) *
* . (_/ ll\_) . * .
* . /___\ . *
* .. *