As wildfires grew to epic proportions along Southern California’s mountain crests, so did an online network of displaced residents hungry for details about their homes and neighbors. Communities scattered by the flame storms regrouped virtually, staying in touch and informed through Web bulletin boards and logs, e-mail and streaming audio of police and fire radio transmissions. Some residents even turned themselves into reporters and lit out for the fire lines, where they pressed authorities for details that they posted online along with photos of the firescape. For communities in the scorched San Bernadino Mountains east of Los Angeles, the Web site RimOfTheWorld.net became a lifeline – a running commentary and record of the fires that killed 22 people and destroyed some 3,600 homes before cooler, wetter weather arrived. Full Story