ABC News
 
November 16, 2008
 
LOS ANGELES-- The fires raging in Southern California have blackened at least 34-square miles and destroyed more than 800 homes since Thursday night.
 
The monstrous fire walls forced the evacuation of around 50-thousand people. In the northern foothills of Los Angeles, the most devastating blaze reduced this entire neighborhood in Sylmar to ashes.
 
Today, a grim search is underway for possible victims who may not have escaped a wall of fire in time.
 
Los Angeles Fire Department Battalion Chief Jim Henaghan says, "The high-probability targets that we're looking at right now are homes with cars still in the driveways or the garages."
 
The fires are turning hillsides and canyons across Southern California into war zones - with multiple lines of firefighters battling the flames on several fronts.
 
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says, "This is usually what happens this time of year when we have the perfect storm, which means basically we have the high winds, the high temperatures and very very dry."