250,000 San Diego households told to flee

San Diego County authorities warned more than 250,000 households to evacuate today as wildfires raged across Southern California for another day, destroying hundreds of structures, clogging highways and sending smoke and ash over a wide area.

Schools were closed and hospitals evacuated by bus, and hundreds of people sought refuge in Qualcomm Stadium and other evacuation centers. Fire officials were stretched to their limits trying to cope with the fast-moving, wind-whipped blazes that burned more than 100,000 acres, or about 156 square miles.

"This is a major emergency," Ron Roberts, chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, told reporters as he outlined the scope of the damage and evacuations.

Emergency officials estimated that more than 250,000 households had been told to evacuate through the "reverse 911" system. At two people per household, that would be nearly 500,000 people, though it was unknown how many had responded to the evacuation call.

The number of evacuations rose steadily throughout the day. Five American Red Cross shelters were jammed, and thousands flocked to Qualcomm Stadium and Del Mar Fairgrounds. Many hotels reported 100% occupancy.

"We have more houses burning than we have people and engine companies to fight them," San Diego Fire Capt. Lisa Blake said. "A lot of people are going to lose their homes today."

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Map of the fires from Google