Thousands flee homes as California burns

Firefighters battled Thursday to douse a series of wildfires fueled by high winds, scorching temperatures and dry vegetation that have forced tens of thousands of Californians to flee their homes. A blaze scorching swathes of the Angeles National Forest, in southern California, two huge infernos in the central part of the state and another fire further north have displaced entire towns. "Our fire activity has definitely picked up in past weeks in number and severity," said Daniel Berlant, a spok