WILDFIRE EVACUATIONS CONTINUE

CALIFORNIA | SANTA CLARITA — A firefighting army converged Monday on a dangerous wildfire burning in the mountainous northern fringe of metropolitan Los Angeles after it wildly expanded and forced thousands of people from their homes during the weekend.

Nearly 3,000 firefighters were put on the lines after the fire ballooned to more than 51 square miles since Friday, forced expansion of evacuations to 10,000 homes and destroyed at least 18 residences.

[AP PHOTO] A firefighter battles a wildfire Sunday in Santa Clarita, Calif. Thousands of homes remained evacuated Monday as two massive wildfires raged in tinder-dry California hills and canyons.