DAY THREE: THE SOUTHLAND FIRES

Fourteen fires that damaged or destroyed at least 554 homes and scorched more than 137,000 acres in six Southern California counties relented Thursday, as residents salvaged sooty possessions and mourned lost dreams. Arson was suspected in six fires--four in Ventura County, Villa Park and the region’s most disastrous, Laguna Beach. The Altadena blaze was attributed to a transient’s campfire. No deaths were reported.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Altadena/Sierra Madre * Location: San Gabriel foothills above Pasadena and Altadena * Acres: 5,700 * Damage: 118 homes destroyed, $58.5-million estimated loss * Injuries: 25 firefighters and nine residents, all minor injuries * Status: Partly contained * Evacuations: More than 2,500 residents from 500 homes * Shelters: Eliot Middle School, 2184 N. Lake Ave., Altadena; Wilson Middle School, 300 S. Madre St., Pasadena; John Muir High School, 1905 N. Lincoln Ave., Pasadena; Sierra Madre Community Center, 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre * Cause: Suspicious, suspect in custody * Firefighters: 1,000 and another 1,000 ordered by U.S. Forest Service

Chatsworth * Location: South of Simi Valley Freeway at Los Angeles County-Ventura County line * Acres: 1,500 * Damage: None reported * Injuries: Four firefighters burned, two critically and two seriously * Status: Out * Evacuations: None reported * Shelters: Unknown * Cause: Under investigation * Firefighters: Unknown

ORANGE COUNTY

Laguna Beach * Location: Irvine to Laguna Beach, including Emerald Bay * Acres: 10,000 * Damage: 330 homes damaged or destroyed * Injuries: 19 firefighters * Status: Fully contained * Evacuations: 24,000 residents from Laguna Beach * Shelters: Dana Hill High School, 33333 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point; Corona del Mar High School, 2101 E. Bluff Drive, Corona del Mar; Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo * Cause: Arson suspected * Firefighters: 2,500

Ortega * Location: Cleveland National Forest near Ortega Highway, 20 miles east of Interstate 5 * Acres: 12,300 * Damage: 20 structures destroyed * Injuries: None reported * Status: Still burning

Villa Park/Anaheim Hills * Location: Anaheim Hills and Orange * Acres: 750 * Damage: 31 homes damaged or destroyed * Injuries: One resident and one firefighter, minor injuries * Status: Out

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

Winchester * Location: South of Hemet * Acres: 25,100 * Damage: 30 homes damaged or destroyed, two bird farms * Injuries: Four firefighters and four residents, minor injuries * Status: 70% contained; 50% controlled

Box Springs * Location: Between Moreno Valley and Riverside, north of California 60 * Acres: 3,500 * Damage: No damage * Injuries: None reported * Status: Fully contained

Cahuilla * Location: Cahuilla Indian Reservation near Anza * Acres: 2,500 * Damage: None * Injuries: None reported * Status: Fully contained

Temecula * Location: Near Vail Lake off California 79 * Acres: 500 * Damage: None reported * Injuries: None reported * Status: Fully contained

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

Yucaipa * Location: Southwest Yucaipa * Acres: 4,860 * Damage: Five homes and one barn destroyed * Injuries: Two firefighters, minor injuries * Status: Nearly contained

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Escondido * Location: North San Diego County * Acres: 14,800 * Damage: Five homes destroyed * Injuries: Three firefighters, all minor * Status: Still burning * Evacuations: Parts of Ramona * Shelters: Orange Glen School, 2200 Glen Ridge Road, Escondido * Cause: Downed power lines * Firefighters: 700

VENTURA COUNTY

Thousand Oaks/Malibu * Location: Thousand Oaks to Pacific Ocean * Acres: 35,000 * Damage: 35 homes destroyed, 23 other structures destroyed, seven mountaintop telecommunications towers and other facilities destroyed * Injuries: Nine firefighters and three residents, minor injuries * Status: Partly contained * Evacuations: Parts of Westlake Village on Ventura County side and Carlisle Canyon * Shelters: Point Dume Community Center, 6955 Fernhill Drive, Malibu; Agoura High School, 22825 Driver Ave. * Cause: Arson, no arrests * Firefighters: 2,000

Steckel Park * Location: Santa Paula * Acres: 20,000 * Damage: One barn destroyed * Injuries: Unknown * Status: Partly contained

Ojai * Location: Off California 33 * Acres: 1,650 * Damage: One structure destroyed * Injuries: None * Status: Partly contained