A fire burns on the east side of New Orleans early Friday morning, Sept. 2, 2005. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrine, firefighters say they will let the fire burn itself out. The explosion jolted residents awake early Friday, illuminating the pre-dawn sky with red and orange flames over the city where corpses rotted along flooded sidewalks and bands of armed thugs thwarted fitful rescue efforts. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)  ¶ 5:55 PM