1993 Ford Escort Wiring issues

Well I was driving down the highway and out through my defroster vent came a large cloud of smoke it continued till I pulled over I got to examing the cause and realized that all the wires behind the fuse box are now melted and intertrained together and now I have no tail lights or dash lights and every time I tried to change the fuse it would blow so I have untangled all the wires so they won't touch still no tail lights but when I push on my brake the dash lights and tail light turn on? I'm now replacing each indivaul wire price bye piece I have a ground is issue some where