The Lucky Find Homes, but No Water, Power

Thousands of Southern California residents have returned to their homes—those fortunate enough to find them standing—to find no electricity and no drinking water, with town reservoirs drained to fight fires, and air choked with smoke and ash. The threat of changing weather also looms: the hot winds that fueled the fires are predicted to return tomorrow, ending the lull that allowed firefighters to battle back the blazes.

Firefighters are scrambling to contain the remaining fires while the favorable weather holds. "We want to take advantage of the conditions while we have them," one fire marshal said.  Qualcomm Stadium, which had housed 10,000 refugees, was being emptied out for Sunday's  game between the San Diego Chargers and Houston Texans. (More wildfires stories.)