Battling Back
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger examines a house owned by Phil Reddish Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006, which was destroyed by the Esperanza fire in the community of Twin Pines north of Banning, Calif. (Ric Francis / AP)
Banning residents wave to firefighters heading into the mountains to battle the Esperanza fire on Sunday. Fire authorities were confident enough to release 500 of the nearly 3,000 who have battled the blaze at an estimated cost of $5.5 million. (Sandy Huffaker / Getty Images)
Firefighters plan for the day ahead. As of Sunday morning, approximately 70 percent of the fire has been put out, 27 homes have been destroyed, 4 firefighters have died and a fifth is in critical condition. (Sandy Huffaker / Getty Images)
Jesse Moreno, from Old Idyllwild, who’s home barely escaped the Esperanza Fire, prays during a worship service at the Banning New Canaan Church. (Sandy Huffaker / Getty Images)
