A Day of Disaster: The Southland Fires

Wildfires driven by searing Santa Ana winds torched hundreds of homes and other structures in Southern California, devouring more than 50,000 acres and forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes. At least 17 firefighters and nine residents were injured battling more than a dozen large blazes, which blacked out the sun and sent ash flying through the skies throughout much of the Los Angeles Basin. The most damaging fires, and their statuses at 6 p.m. Wednesday:

LAGUNA BEACH / EMERALD BAY

Almost 3,000 acres in Orange County’s Laguna Beach area were ablaze, with an estimated 100 or more homes destroyed. Arson was suspected in the fast-moving fire.

ALTADENA

More than 5,000 acres burned and more than 50 homes were destroyed in a Los Angeles County blaze that forced more than 2,000 people to evacuate. A suspect, identified as a transient who set a fire to keep himself warm, was arrested in the still-burning blaze.

THOUSAND OAKS

Almost 18,000 acres were charred from a blaze that began Tuesday in Ventura County, racing from Thousand Oaks to the Pacific Ocean. About 500 people were evacuated in the blaze. Authorities have arrested an arson suspect.