We will show you live pictures from Ventura County you could see the massive flames being whipped by the winds, and it is burning over this huge area in Ventura County. Here is more with this report from the fire lines. He stood along as his parents watched their home go up in flames. It is very surreal. How long have you guys been living there . About 25 years. The grandkids have spent many years there. They dodged the fire last night that the parents were not so lucky. I looked at my house and then i found out that my parents house was burning down. That was fast. The vegetation just took off. Reporter this is one of the homes destroyed by the fire. They were afraid that the flames took down that took down the neighbors house would take down there is. You keep praying and you keep helping. Reporter have you ever seen anything like this before . Never. I am in shock. Reporter they are trying to save as many structures as possible. They rely on pump systems they are electrically powere
38,000 people had to be evacuated. The wind is pushing the flames west towards more neighborhoods. Fire Officials Say no deaths or serious injuries have been reported. They do say that fire may keep burning for several days. We are also talking about 55 miles away in los angeles county, the creek fire is threatening hundreds of homes. It has already burned 17 square miles and it destroyed at least 30 homes in the northern San Fernando Valley. Two firefighters have been hurt while battling the flames in los angeles. More than 100,000 people have been ordered to evacuate. 12 miles north of the creek fire the arrive fire is threatening 1300 homes. Look at these pictures. Fire Officials Say that fire in the city of Santa Clarita is five percent contained but has already burned 5000 acres. At one point it shut down interstate. At one point it shut down interstate 5 near the Magic Mountain amusement park. So far no serious injuries have been reported there. The Southern California fires are
Into another battle with firefighters going up against mother nature. Just like the northbay firefighters, strong wind is a big problem and really whipping up the flames. Ellis and barber is back again in Ventura County. Were trying to get the latest on how the wind is. Whats happening out there . Reporter you can see a little bit, a fire truck just pulled into this neighborhood. They have been driving around and keeping an eye on things here in terms of what the wind is going to do today that remains to be seen. Yesterdays fire officials said they plan to get air support up once the sun came up this morning. They want to try to fight the edges of the fire to keep it out of neighborhoods so more homes dont wind up like this one. The wind is starting to pickup and some say they could, experts and Officials Say they could get up to 70 miles an hour today. That could cause a big problem. We know in the past in fighting these areas in the past couple of days at least two helicopters had co
S it he a place where tourists and pilgrims gather on a daily bases. Any idea the reaction of the people among the street or in the plaza . Reporter oh, yeah. We spoke to a number of people here. They saw all of the cameras charging over them. They were there to visit st. Peters square on a quiet monday morning as the tourists do here. They asked us what is going on. Nobody really got the news. When they told them Pope Benedict xvi was redesignisignry didnt know. Actually, he can, but obviously, no pope has done that for 700 years. So no wonder people are aware of that. For now on that may change the course of the Catholic Church in the future as well as Pope Benedict xvi is setting an example. If you dont have the strength to carry on let someone younger and more strength to carry on the mission. It certainly is a monument ool announcement. Claudio, thank you very much. This morning we spoke with greg burke the senior communication adviser to the holy see in rome. We began by asking h
Morning. Im matt lauer. And im savannah guthrie. Cant say that this is unprecedented for a pope to just step down, but you have to go back 1600 years to find another example of it. Pope benedict xvi announcing he is stepping down as leader of the Catholic Church. Huge news for the worlds 1 billion catholics. And noncatholics as well. The 85yearold pope made the announcement moments ago, saying his strength is no longer adequate to carry on his duties. In a moment well talk about the decision with Timothy Cardinal dolan, the highest ranking catholic here in the united states. Claudeio is in rome. This morning, would you say this is total surprise . Reporter matt, this was total surprise. Always clear that Pope Benedict xvi was getting weaker by the month. Every time we saw him coming out on official celebration, he did look weaker and weaker, but then he again he is an 85yearold man. John paul ii before him was even in worse shape and he did not resign. Nobody was really expecting him t