California fireman clings to life


California fireman clings to life

A firefighter badly burnt in a California wildfire that killed four of his companions is in “poor” condition, with burns over 90% of his body.
Doctors said on Friday they hoped to be able to operate on the injured man, Pablo Cerda, 23, to remove burned skin.
Thousands of acres have been burnt around the town of Cabazon, some 125 miles (200km) east of Los Angeles.
Hundreds of families have been forced to leave their homes in one of the worst wildfire seasons on record.
Firefighters went door-to-door waking people overnight and ordering them to flee as the fire spread, Reuters reported.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger paid tribute to the firefighters who were killed on Thursday, saying Californians were “heartbroken” and ordering flags flown at half mast.
A $100,000 (£52,700) reward has been offered for information about the fire, which investigators say was set deliberately.
They have not said what evidence they have that suggests arson.
A murder inquiry has been launched.

No cover

The dead firefighters have been named as Capt Mark Loutzenhiser, 44; Jess McLean, 27; Jason McCay, 27; and Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20.
They were killed when flames changed direction so quickly they had no time to take cover.
More than 1,000 personnel have been involved in fighting the fire since it broke out at 0112 local time (0812 GMT) on Thursday.
The flames spread rapidly, fuelled by strong winds, high temperatures and dry conditions.
By late Friday the fire was 5% contained, officials said.
The authorities believe it was started deliberately to cause maximum damage.
“A deliberate arson fire that kills someone constitutes murder,” Californian firefighters chief John Hawkins told reporters.
The weather service has issued a red flag warning for extreme fire danger in the next few days.
Officials say it may be next week before the blaze is under control.