California wildfire forces thousands of evacuations

Drought-stricken California has been hit with waves of wildfires this summer, fueled by dry conditions, heat and dead brush. Firefighters are most concerned about the western flank of the blaze between Lytle Creek and Lone Pine Canyon, as the fire moves toward Wrightwood. “I’m seeing outbuildings. I’m seeing houses”, he said. Temperatures were expected to hit 104 degrees in the area, with wind gusts of up to 40 miles an hour in some areas fanning the flames. More than 1,300 fire personnel, 150 fire engines, 18 fire crews, 10 air tankers, and eight helicopters are battling the wildfire. Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency in the area.

“This fire is still raging out of control”, Tracy Martinez, a public information officer for the San Bernardino County Fire Dept. told the Times, saying it’s unknown how many structures have been lost. Heavy gray smoke hung in the distance. The so-called Clayton Fire was 40 per cent contained on Wednesday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Mr. Barley said officials expect the fire to grow at a similarly intense rate Wednesday.

“We do have people who chose not to evacuate”. San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said deputies were continuing those evacuations Wednesday.

“From reports that we were hearing, possibly up to half didn’t leave”, said Lyn Sieliet, a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman.

Video showed the flames consuming the well-known restaurant, located at the crest of the 15 Freeway.

“We’re in the fifth year of drought and we’re starting to see the consequences of that”, Miller said.

Twenty-two major fires are now raging across the Western United States. Authorities could not say how many homes were destroyed in the fire, but they prepared communities for bad news. There are believed to be more than 34,000 homes in its direct path. “It’s raining ash”, Anderson said, breathing hard. It was 10 percent contained after growing to 10 square miles and forcing authorities to evacuate some residents by boat.

The fire forced a shutdown of part of Interstate 15, leaving commuters and travelers stranded for hours.

Ms. Tripp was preparing to drive home to Adelanto, but instead checked into a hotel in the San Bernardino suburb of Fontana when she heard about the rapid spread of the fire earlier in the day. Vehicles were backed up on the 15 for about 3 miles near the closure.

“People are pretty mellow, but a couple are really stressed”, said Susan Sales, night supervisor of the shelter.

Two firefighters were slightly injured after being surrounded by flames. They returned to duty, the fire department said.

This fire is just the latest to cause destruction and evacuations in the state. Gov. In recent days, fast-moving wildfires have raced into mountain towns and even whole cities, blackening more than 300,000 acres and destroying hundreds of homes and structures. That fire destroyed 175 homes and other structures in the working-class community.