Los Angeles wildfire chars 24,000 acres, 3 Homes
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-02 16:37

LOS ANGELES - A wildfire that torched more than 24,000 acres on the edge of the city left a surprising legacy — it destroyed just three homes, a remarkably small number given the size and ferocity of the blaze.

A break in dry, windy weather and a speedy, pinpoint response by thousands of firefighters combined to spare scores of homes that stood in the path of the flames, officials said.

"It's thinking ahead of where you think the fire is going to be — looking at weather reports, wind speed, humidity, past burn patterns," said Battalion Chief Lou Roupoli of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

"It's like fighting a war," Roupoli added. "Everybody has a piece of the puzzle. Everybody has a chain of command they report to."

Coming just weeks after the chaotic response to Hurricane Katrina, the textbook effort in Los Angeles County prompted this reaction from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: "Spectacular."

"We have the best fire department ... the best firefighters, the best fire chiefs, the best coordination, great communication," the governor said.

The fire began Wednesday afternoon in the Chatsworth area of northwest Los Angeles, then spread quickly in high winds.

By Saturday afternoon, firefighting equipment was heading elsewhere, the blaze mostly put down.

There were seven injuries, none serious. Neighborhoods that had been evacuated were reopened to residents, and shelters were closed.

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