WASHINGTON — Special FBI teams gathered evidence Wednesday as part of a possible arson investigation into the wildfires devastating Southern California, the agency said.
FBI evidence-response teams recovered materials they hoped would identify the source of the fires that have burned for four days.
The FBI said a house was not searched, correcting earlier reports from a law enforcement official.
The fires have destroyed 1,500 homes and caused at least a half-million people to flee, in what has become the largest evacuation in state history.
Quick rebound forecast
While losses from the devastating Southern California wildfires are pegged at $1 billion in San Diego County alone, experts say the region’s strong economy should make for a fairly quick rebound.
“It’s a human tragedy; it’s not an economic tragedy,” said Stephen Levy, senior economist at the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy. “It’s asset losses; it’s property damage, probably a lot less than what people have lost through foreclosures.”
A big slice of the repair bill will go toward rebuilding downed power lines and roads. In addition, agricultural areas in San Diego have also been damaged, hurting avocado, citrus and grape crops.
Economists are also eyeing disruptions to businesses and productivity, as nearly 500,000 people were evacuated and businesses were forced to close their doors temporarily.
Popular tourist destinations, such as SeaWorld in San Diego and the Wild Animal Park in nearby Escondido, were forced to shut down.
But the economic pain might be short-lived.
“All in all, the fires occurred in more remote, residential areas,” said economist Jerry Nickelsburg. “It will have very little effect on the medium and long-term economic growth and economic health of the region.”
Help from Denver
Red Cross volunteers in Denver are helping people in Southern California affected by the wildfires.
The Denver Disaster Response Call Center is up and running with an initial team of five agents taking calls from California.
The Denver center went on line in 2004 as the first “remote-access national call center” in the country, said Robert Thompson, director of communications with the American Red Cross Mile High Chapter.
Using databases and the Internet, trained volunteers can field calls and direct those in need to the nearest shelters, meal centers and medical stations that have been set up near the burn areas.
“We help them connect with the resources they need the most at the time” they call, Thompson said. “We can cut the wait time tremendously.”
The Denver center can field up to 18 volunteers at once if needed.
To learn more about Red Cross programs, to sign up for classes, to volunteer or to make a donation, call 303-722-7474 or visit www.denver-redcross.org
– Kieran Nicholson, The Denver Post
