National Digest

Winds whip up California wildfire

LOS ANGELES - Intense Santa Ana winds swept into Southern California this morning and whipped up a 3,000-acre wildfire, forcing the closure of a major freeway during rush hour and burning mobile homes and industrial buildings.

The blaze, 20 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, began yesterday and was calm overnight, but flared up early today when winds gusting to 65 mph moved in.

"This is what we feared the most," said Los Angeles County fire Capt. Mark Savage. "The winds that were expected, they have arrived."

The fire sent about 1,200 people from their homes over the weekend. All remained evacuated this morning, when the winds moved arrived and marked the start of the region's serious fire season.

The re-energized fire jumped a fireline early today in an area of Lopez Canyon in the eastern San Fernando Valley that had already been evacuated, Capt. Savage said. As a result, a three-mile stretch of the Foothill Freeway was closed in both directions during rush hour, the California Highway Patrol said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Bush hosts Italian premier for talks

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Bush said today the United States and other nations are taking "responsible, decisive action" to rescue the global economy and promote growth after a financial crisis that has endangered the world's banking system.

He spoke at a White House welcoming ceremony for Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, a close ally. The two leaders held talks in the Oval Office and Mr. Bush was to host Mr. Berlusconi at an elegant White House dinner. Mr. Berlusconi said history will show that Bush was a great president.

7 die in 2 NYC blazes in 2 days

NEW YORK - A school bus driver and his nephew died when a fire ravaged their apartment, a day after the city's deadliest blaze in nearly two years killed a couple and three children.

The latest fatal fire yesterday came as the lone survivor of Saturday's fire, a 10-year-old boy, remained hospitalized with critical injuries. His family's apartment became a deathtrap in just minutes, firefighters said.

New York City fire marshals say the blaze that claimed the lives of a couple and their children was caused by a child playing with matches or a lighter. The source of the other fire remains under investigation.

All seven victims died of smoke inhalation, said Ellen Borakove, a spokesman for the city medical examiner's office.