Fast-moving wildfires force evacuations across southern California
Thousands of residents across southern California have been ordered to evacuate as a cluster of fast-moving wildfires, fanned by powerful Santa Ana winds, continues to spread.
The Norte Fire, which broke out on Friday in Orange County south of Los Angeles, had already grown to 465 acres by that evening and expanded further to 570 acres (2.3 sq km) by Saturday morning, with containment at just 5%. Division 3 Fire Chief Mark Backoff said six homes had been damaged or destroyed by the blaze and that one firefighter had been treated for heat exhaustion. “We continue to engage in the firefight, and have additional resources coming,” he said. Video shared online showed flames tearing through properties in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.
The Norte Fire is one of 10 currently burning in California, according to the state’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. In Malibu, the Bryson Fire has triggered evacuations across the Santa Monica mountains and has burned 147 acres, though firefighting crews — more than 400 strong — have brought it to 52% containment.
Further south in San Diego county, the Henderson Fire, which ignited on Thursday, has scorched more than 3,100 acres (12.5 sq km), including land near Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and was roughly 35% contained as of Saturday morning. Its size has twice forced the closure of Interstate 5, a key route running the length of the US West Coast.
The US National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning across several California counties, citing a dangerous mix of strong winds, low humidity and dry vegetation. Officials said the Santa Ana winds — which typically arrive between late September and May — peaked on Friday but would remain hazardous into early Saturday, with gusts in the Los Angeles area topping 40mph (64km/h) and raising the risk of windblown debris on roads.
Unseasonably high temperatures have compounded the danger, with a heat advisory warning of continued risk of heat-related illness and forecasts predicting highs of 95F (35C) across southern California on Saturday.
Source: BBC News