Southern California wildfire explodes in size
Source: Agencies |
June 3, 2013, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A fire that destroyed at least five structures and threatened hundreds of others exploded in size overnight, burning dangerously close to two communities north of Los Angeles.
Erratic wind spread the blaze in the Angeles National Forest to nearly 106 square kilometers early yesterday, triggering the evacuation of nearly 1,000 homes in Lake Hughes and Lake Elizabeth, officials said.
Matt Corelli of the Forest Service said that five structures had been burned down. He said they could be homes but crews were waiting for more daylight to make a positive determination.
At least 10 other structures were damaged.
Patty Robitaille, 61, grabbed personal photos and documents before fleeing her Lake Hughes home with her pit bull, Roxie, as flames approached Saturday night. She said her home was among the first in the direct path of the fire.
"Driving away, you could see the town burning up," she told the Los Angeles Times. "I don't think there's going to be much left."
Crews working in steep terrain expected cooler weather yesterday after temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius a day earlier. The wind pushed the fire up and down steep slopes, creating embers that sparked spot fires in different directions.
The fire was 20 percent contained, according to the authorities.
A huge plume of smoke could be seen from much of various parts of northern Los Angeles County throughout Saturday, and air-quality officials warned against strenuous outdoor activity.
Erratic wind spread the blaze in the Angeles National Forest to nearly 106 square kilometers early yesterday, triggering the evacuation of nearly 1,000 homes in Lake Hughes and Lake Elizabeth, officials said.
Matt Corelli of the Forest Service said that five structures had been burned down. He said they could be homes but crews were waiting for more daylight to make a positive determination.
At least 10 other structures were damaged.
Patty Robitaille, 61, grabbed personal photos and documents before fleeing her Lake Hughes home with her pit bull, Roxie, as flames approached Saturday night. She said her home was among the first in the direct path of the fire.
"Driving away, you could see the town burning up," she told the Los Angeles Times. "I don't think there's going to be much left."
Crews working in steep terrain expected cooler weather yesterday after temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius a day earlier. The wind pushed the fire up and down steep slopes, creating embers that sparked spot fires in different directions.
The fire was 20 percent contained, according to the authorities.
A huge plume of smoke could be seen from much of various parts of northern Los Angeles County throughout Saturday, and air-quality officials warned against strenuous outdoor activity.
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