A Day of Disaster

Wildfires driven by searing Santa Ana winds torched hundreds of homes and other structures in Southern California, devouring about 70,000 acres and forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes. At least 23 firefighters and eight residents were injured battling more than a dozen large blazes. The most damaging fires, and their status at 11 p.m. Wednesday:

LAGUNA BEACH/EMERALD BAY

* Almost 8,000 acres in Orange County’s Laguna Beach area were ablaze, with up to 300 homes destroyed. Arson was suspected in the fast-moving fire. All residents were being evacuated.

ALTADENA

* About 5,000 acres burned and at least 115 homes were destroyed in a Los Angeles County blaze that forced more than 2,000 people to evacuate. A suspect, identified as a transient who set a fire to keep himself warm, was arrested in connection with the blaze.

THOUSAND OAKS

* About 19,000 acres were charred from a blaze that began Tuesday in Ventura County, racing from Thousand Oaks to the Pacific Ocean. About 500 people were evacuated. Arson was suspected.

THE REGION

* In Chatsworth, four firefighters were seriously injured in a 1,500-acre fire.

* In Orange County, arson also was suspected in a blaze in Anaheim Hills and Villa Park that destroyed or damaged 31 homes.

* In the Inland Empire, half a dozen fires were raging.

More fire details and map on A5