-Caveat Lector- Calif. Fires Destroy Homes JULY 03, 22:13 EDT By JOHN HOWARD Associated Press Writer LEWISTON, Calif. (AP) - A fire that federal authorities set to thin brush got out of control and roared through a mountain hamlet, destroying two dozen homes and forcing 500 people to flee. High winds and hot weather Friday fanned flames of the "controlled burn" beyond a 100-acre expanse of brush and weeds and into Lewiston. There were no injuries, but many homeowners who fled returned Saturday to little more than smoking rubble. "It just exploded," said one resident, Rod Robinson. "We had a few minutes to get out of there," he said as he examined the smoldering debris of his home. "I grabbed our coats, I grabbed our guns out of the cabinet. I got the '57 Chevy." Besides the house, Robinson lost his workshop, several automobiles, motorcycles, and a collection of 85-year-old china. "I apologize for this. It just happens sometimes," said Doug Held, who was in charge of the fire set by the Bureau of Land Management to thin out fire-prone overgrowth. "I think we're going to have to re-evaluate our prescription burn program." By Saturday, the fire had blackened more than 2,000 acres of brush and forest land. It was 50 percent contained by the afternoon, but there was no estimate of when it would be completely under control. Falling temperatures and lighter wind were aiding the effort, however. Air tanker planes, helicopters and more than 2,000 firefighters were at the scene, a rugged swath of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest about 300 miles northeast of San Francisco. Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om