Residents flee as California and Nevada wildfires get dangerously close and forecasters warn of record heat
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California’s Line Fire explodes in size: The wildfire has consumed 17,237 acres as of early Sunday after igniting at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains on Thursday. The blaze has more than quadrupled in size since Saturday morning. Authorities urged residents in several areas to flee as the massive blaze shot bright red flames and thick, billowing plumes of smoke into the sky. About 500 firefighters are battling the wildfire, which was 0% contained as of Sunday morning, according to Cal Fire.
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Line Fire creates its own weather: As it burns through acres of land, it’s creating its own weather in the form of pyrocumulus clouds. The clouds can create erratic winds that push the fire outward, spreading it farther and challenging firefighters. If it’s hot enough, the clouds can produce lightning and rain, called pyrocumulonimbus. They can reach heights of 50,000 feet and generate their own systems of thunderstorms.
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Thousands evacuated in California mountain communities: As the flames move dangerously close, authorities announced mandatory evacuation orders for about 4,800 homes in the Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake areas. Hundreds more have been evacuated in the city of Highland. ‘The Line Fire is very active and spreading in receptive fuels,’ said officials. ‘There are currently 8,733 structures threatened, including single and multi-family homes, commercial buildings, and other minor structures.’
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Emergency declared in California: The governor has proclaimed a state of emergency in San Bernardino County due to the Line Fire. A grant has been obtained from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure the availability of vital fire resources, according to a statement.
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Nevada wildfire destroys structures: The Davis Fire, a dangerous, wind-driven blaze, has burned about 1,500 acres, destroyed at least six structures and remains 0% contained as of Sunday morning. ‘Numerous communities under evacuation orders impacting 1,800 people,’ officials said. ‘Heavy aerial resources and multiple agencies working to stop this wind-driven wildfire.’ Power has been cut to around 18,700 customers to prevent further ignitions and protect first responders.
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Sweltering heat will add to the region’s misery: Excessive heat warnings and advisories are in effect for southern California, the Desert Southwest, and the northern Great Basin. Temperatures in Southern California range from 95 to 105 degrees – about 10 to 20 degrees above average for the region. An air quality alert has also been issued ‘due to heat wave and elevated fine particle pollution levels due to wildfire smoke,’ according to the National Weather Service.
The Line Fire has grown more than 14 times in size in just over 30 hours, from about 1,180 acres at 5 p.m. PT Friday to over 17,200 acres Saturday night.
As the wildfire tears through the San Bernardino County mountains, some residents have tried to stop the blaze from reaching their homes.
Another resident said she’s been stocking up on groceries in case she needs to evacuate.
Multiple agencies are working together to manage the fire. An evacuation shelter has been set up at a local church for residents seeking refuge from the fire.
California is seeing an active fire season. Wildfires have scorched over 838,000 acres throughout the state so far this year compared to 255,144 acres by this time last year, according to officials.
Adding to the list of natural disasters, a pair of earthquakes struck Saturday near Ontario, California, within a half hour of each other, jolting the region. The first earthquake was recorded at 3.5 magnitude at 10 a.m. local time, and the next one was recorded at 3.9 magnitude. Residents living as far as Los Angeles felt it.