A raging wildfire in the foothills of a national forest east of Los Angeles has put tens of thousands of buildings at risk and has forced hundreds of residents to evacuate. This comes as the region experiences scorching temperatures in the triple digits during a prolonged heat wave.
A fire known as the Line Fire was spreading near the San Bernardino National Forest, located approximately 65 miles (105 kilometers) east of Los Angeles. By Sunday morning, a large area of grass and chaparral had been scorched by the blaze, resulting in a dense cloud of dark smoke covering the vicinity.
On Saturday, the intense fire generated its own weather systems resembling thunderstorms, known as pyrocumulus clouds. These clouds may lead to more difficult conditions, including strong winds and lightning strikes, as reported by the National Weather Service. Officials mentioned that firefighters encountered challenging terrain that hindered their efforts to contain the fire. The fire continued to spread without being brought under control on Sunday afternoon.
Following the declaration of an emergency on Saturday evening, county officials have issued evacuation orders for Running Springs, Arrowbear Lake, areas east of Highway 330, and other affected regions.
Running Springs resident Steven Michael King had intended to remain and assist his neighbors in battling the fire until Sunday morning, when the situation intensified. Despite taking precautions to protect his house from fire damage, he ultimately chose to evacuate due to concerns that smoke might hinder his ability to escape later on.
“It was a difficult decision, weighing the options of being trapped or seeking shelter,” he said outside an evacuation center on Sunday. “With the changing conditions, I had to think on my feet and make a swift choice. I managed to fit everything I needed into a shopping cart with just a few packs.”
According to state firefighters, three firefighters sustained injuries while over 35,000 structures, including single and multi-family homes and commercial buildings, were at risk. There is a possibility of thunderstorms later in the day, which could further complicate efforts to control the fire.
“Afternoon thunderstorms could cause new ignitions and potentially influence activity around the fire perimeter,” state firefighters said in a Sunday morning update. “Hot and dry conditions mixed with thunderstorms are expected to challenge firefighters for the next few days.”
The impacted region lies close to quaint mountain towns nestled within the San Bernardino National Forest, a popular destination for Southern California residents seeking winter skiing and summer mountain biking. Running Springs is located along the route to the well-known ski resort town of Big Bear.
Due to the fire, the Redlands Unified School District made the decision to cancel Monday classes for approximately 20,000 students.
San Bernardino County was declared in a state of emergency by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday night.
A small vegetation fire broke out on Sunday afternoon in Clearlake City, located 110 miles (117 kilometers) north of San Francisco. As a result, approximately 4,000 individuals were being evacuated and structures were being consumed by the fire. According to officials, a significant number of homes and commercial buildings were engulfed in flames. Firefighters reported significant progress in containing the fire on Sunday afternoon.
Additional firefighters were anticipated to arrive in San Bernadino County on Sunday. According to state officials, the vegetation in the area is extremely dry and temperatures soared above 100 degrees (39 degrees Celsius) on Saturday. The relative humidity was also conducive for the fire to rapidly spread. A fire broke out on Thursday evening, and authorities are currently investigating the cause.
Over 600 firefighters are currently engaged in combatting the fire, receiving assistance from water-dropping helicopters and other aircraft, as reported by state firefighters. Despite attempts to gather more information about the injured firefighters, Cal Fire officials did not respond to calls on Sunday.
A fire erupted, releasing thick smoke that billowed into the sky, while flames flickered atop the hills.
No homes or other structures have been damaged or destroyed.
On Friday, downtown Los Angeles experienced scorching temperatures, reaching a high of 112 degrees Fahrenheit (44 Celsius). This rare occurrence has only happened three times in the past century and a half.