Southern California is battling multiple wildfires after nearly a week of extreme heat, with temperatures over 100 degrees. One fire burned so intensely that it created thunderstorm-like weather conditions.
As temperatures are expected to drop next week, firefighters are hopeful they’ll gain control over the fires. The Line Fire, which began in Highland, California, has forced 6,000 people to evacuate their homes in San Bernardino County and threatens more than 30,000 structures.
The fire is burning near the San Bernardino National Forest, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles. Fighting the fire is difficult due to the triple-digit heat and the steep terrain. The fire is also generating high winds and lightning, making it even harder to control.
We’re facing tough conditions with high temperatures and difficult terrain, where fires haven’t burned for decades. This has created a lot of fuel for the fire, said Rick Carhart, a spokesperson for Cal Fire.
Three firefighters have been injured since the fire started on Thursday. Fortunately, the heatwave is expected to end on Tuesday, which should help firefighters as they work to contain the fires.
As of Monday evening, the fire was 5% contained and had burned around 37 square miles of land. Thick clouds of smoke continue to cover the area.
The Line Fire is just one of many burning across the western U.S. Fires are also raging in Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada, where 20,000 people were evacuated near Reno. In California, there are three major fires, including the Line Fire, one near San Francisco, and a new fire that broke out Monday in Orange County.
Residents of the mountain community of Running Springs had to flee their homes on Saturday as the Line Fire spread up the mountain. One resident, Steven Michael King, initially planned to stay and help his neighbors fight the fire but was forced to evacuate due to the intensity of the blaze.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for San Bernardino County, allowing more resources to be sent to fight the fire. Many mountain communities, popular for skiing in the winter, remain under evacuation orders as officials work to contain the fire.
Meanwhile, firefighters in nearby Orange County are battling the Airport Fire, which began on Monday and quickly spread over three square miles. Crews are using bulldozers, helicopters, and airplanes to control it.
Another fire has broken out in Los Angeles County in the Angeles National Forest near Glendora. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has ordered campers and nearby residents to evacuate.
In Nevada, the uncontained Davis Fire is burning 20 miles outside Reno and has grown to 10 square miles. Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency for Washoe County, forcing 20,000 people to evacuate.