Fires force evacuation of more than 300,000

THOUSANDS more residents were ordered to evacuate their homes yesterday, bringing the number of people chased away by the flames that have engulfed southern California to at least 300,000.

By day three, the dozen wildfires had burned more than 700 homes and set 245,957 acres ablaze. Today’s forecast called for hotter temperatures and more explosive Santa Ana gusts.

The blazes spread so quickly that even hotels serving as temporary shelters for evacuees had to be evacuated.