Catastrophic fires blaze a path of destruction through Southland

In a swiftly moving catastrophe that seemed as familiar as it was shocking, Southern California once again was besieged by flame Saturday, from Orange County to Santa Barbara, with hundreds of homes consumed by three major wind-driven fires, including one of the most devastating blazes ever to strike the city of Los Angeles.

By Louis Sahagun, Mike Anton and Mitchell Landsberg

November 16, 2008