As a U.S. Navy SH-60 Seahawk flies above, the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis transits the San Diego channel, from the North Island, Calif., Naval Air Station. Wildfires driven by hot Santa Ana wind flared into gigantic waves of flame that devoured entire neighborhoods, choking the sky over Southern California.

First published in the October 28, 2007, 5:50 p.m. edition

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