Chargers stadium becomes fire refugee camp

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- An estimated 10,000 evacuees from San Diego-area wildfires were cooling their heels Monday at Qualcomm Stadium, home field of the San Diego Chargers.

An appeal went out for food, cots and blankets to be dropped off at the stadium where some 300 volunteers were assisting the steady stream of refugees from nearby suburbs and inland communities affected by the growing fires.

KFMB-TV, San Diego, said the stadium made provisions for marshaling horse trailers and stashing other animals in the parking lot, although pets were not being allowed inside the stadium.

San Diego city officials noted earlier some evacuees apparently showed up at the nearby headquarters of Qualcomm Corp., apparently losing the "stadium" part of the message in their haste to get out of their imperiled neighborhoods.

Churches and schools across San Diego County were also being thrown open to house the rapidly growing number of evacuees.