California wildfire grows, levels dozens of homes
* 10 firefighters injured
* 13,500 people ordered evacuated
* Dozens of homes destroyed, 3,500 threatened
By Mario Anzuoni
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., May 7 (Reuters) - Wind-whipped flames that incinerated dozens of homes and injured 10 firefighters raged through the central California foothills at the edge of Santa Barbara for a third day on Thursday, forcing thousands of residents to flee threatened neighborhoods.
Even as a newly reinforced crew of 1,400 firefighters battled the blaze, which was being investigated as an arson, the estimated size of the conflagration had nearly tripled by daybreak to roughly 1,300 acres (525 hectares), authorities said.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has spent recent days promoting wildfire safety throughout the state, visited the site of the first major fire of the year and said dozens of homes have been destroyed.
Another 3,500 remained threatened and authorities ordered 13,500 people to evacuate their homes, he said.
A handful of homeowners ignored warnings to flee and stayed behind in a bid to help save their own houses. Continued...
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