Californians forced to flee wildfire
A wildfire broke out yesterday and spread at a staggering pace in every direction through drought-parched canyons east of Los Angeles, burning at least a dozen buildings — including some homes — and prompting evacuation orders for entire communities.
The blaze that began as a small patch of flame next to Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass had scorched 6070ha of the San Bernardino Mountains, churning up and over ridges and descending into the Mojave Desert.
Snaking walls of flame rising 30m high turned about 60sq km of chaparral to ashes, along with outbuildings and homes in the ranchlands 100km east of Los Angeles.
Mandatory evacuation calls went out to 34,506 homes with more than 82,600 people, ranging for the ski resort of Wrightwood to the sprawling high desert town of Phelan, with more than 14,000 residents.
“This fire is burning in significantly different terrains at multiple elevation levels,” making it difficult to fight, said Eric Sherwin of the San Bernardino County Fire Department.
Hundreds of animals, including dogs and horses, also were evacuated.
The flames were fuelled by thick stands of drought-stricken brush in the canyons and grass at lower elevations.
The flames burned faster in the grassy areas, making them less likely to burn homes but also making them more vulnerable to wind shifts, Sherwin said. — AP