Sudden So. California wildfire forces evacuations

LOS ANGELES, Mar 12 (Reuters) Residents of about 200 Southern California homes were ordered to evacuate as a brush fire whipped by hot gusting winds scorched 500 acres near a large hillside community, firefighters said.

Fire officials said two homes had burned in the fast-moving blaze in brush about half a mile from the Anaheim Hills neighborhood in Orange County, about 35 miles south-east of Los Angeles.

''This is very dangerous firefight. The terrain is quite rugged and the homes are at the top of the ridges. The fire picks up speed as it runs up the hill and as it runs through the canyons,'' Orange County battalion chief Ed Fleming said.

Much of Southern California was under a red flag fire warning over the weekend as hot winds drove temperatures up to around 90 degrees inland after a winter of exceptionally low rainfall. Fire season usually runs from June to October.

Fire and police officials went door to door or used megaphones to order residents out of their homes.

Helicopters and airplanes dropped fire retardant and water onto the flames and some 200 firefighters fought the blaze on the ground.

Television picture showed flames leaping just feet from the backyard patio and swimming pool of one home. Thick black plumes of smoke filled the skyline and were visible for miles.

The blaze started early yesterday morning and spread quickly, pushed by winds from the desert gusting up to 35 mph in hot weather.

Orange County Fire Captain Steve Miller said it may have been sparked by an abandoned car.

Fleming said humidity in the area was only 5 per cent and that residents not already evacuated should prepare to leave quickly if necessary.

''We are reminding people to get ready, take their people and pets, papers, and phone numbers, prescriptions and pills ... and get ready to move out,'' he said.

Reuters DKS VP0438