So. Cal Fires UPDATE

Satellite image of Southern California fires at 12:30 p.m. today.
courtesy of www.LATimes.com

California fires affect 500,000
More than half a million people have been ordered to evacuate parts of the US state of California being engulfed by massive wildfires.
Fierce winds are fanning at least 16 fires that have razed land from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border.
The blazes have left two people dead and destroyed more than 1,200 homes and businesses, say officials.
President George W Bush will visit the state on Thursday, after declaring a state of emergency in seven counties.
A White House spokeswoman said Mr Bush, whose administration was accused of a sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina two years ago, wanted to "witness first-hand" the crisis.
Up to 300,000 acres (120,000 hectares) of land have been scorched - an area bigger than New York City.

On Tuesday, 6,000 firefighters were struggling to contain the flames, which are being fuelled by hot 70mph (113km/h) winds.
Officials have warned the heat and wind levels are not likely to abate for 24 hours.
About 513,000 people in San Diego County have received a mandatory evacuation order, officials said.
The wildfires have so far claimed two lives - a 52-year-old man whose body was found on Sunday and an unidentified civilian who died of burns in a Santa Clarita fire, officials said.
Around 40 people have been injured, including at least 18 firefighters.
as found on www.bbc.co.uk