California State of Emergency over fire
Saturday, 28 October 2006 15:10The Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has declared a state of emergency in areas devastated by a huge forest fire, which has destroyed 35 square miles of brushland east of Los Angeles.
A reward for information on who started the fire has been increased to $500,000 (E397,000).
An investigation is continuing into reports that arsonists were responsible for the forest fire, which has killed four firefighters.
Residents said they had seen teenagers smoking marijuana near where the fire is thought to have started about 27km northwest of Palm Springs.
A fifth firefighter is on life-support having sustained kidney failure and severe lung damage as well as burns over 90% of his body.
By nightfall last night, the fire had consumed 39,900 acres (16,147Ha) and was expected to take days to bring under full control.
