Fires raging in Southern California forced 1,200 people to evacuate over the weekend as firefighters scrambled to put out the blazes.
The Post Fire broke out Saturday afternoon and has burned more than 12,000 acres in less than 24 hours, according to Cal Fire. The fire began near Gorman, a small community in northern Los Angeles County, about 60 miles north of downtown Los Angeles along Interstate 5.
Cal Fire said in an update Sunday afternoon that it expected the next few days to be hot and dry, with winds steady at 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph. The fire was only 2 percent contained at the time.
“Residents are advised to remain vigilant and be prepared to evacuate if fire conditions change,” officials warned.
There were no immediate reports of homes at risk, but two commercial buildings were destroyed, authorities said. Evacuations were concentrated in Hungry Valley State Park, where many had gathered to camp over Father’s Day weekend.
“It felt like the last day of the world,” planned camper Oscar Flores told the Los Angeles Times. “People were rushing to get in their cars, merging and driving at high speed. The rangers said they could get there in 10 minutes. [to get] You can pack anything in there.”
Cal Fire said 400 fire apparatus and 70 fire engines were deployed to battle the blaze, with multiple aircraft battling the flames from the air.
“Evacuation warnings have been issued for areas south of Pyramid Lake between the Aldridge Route and the Los Angeles County line, including Paradise Ranch Estates,” Cal Fire said in an online update. “Please prepare to evacuate. Anyone needing additional time to evacuate should evacuate now.”
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
California has seen a rise in dangerous and deadly wildfires over the past decade. On Friday, a Los Angeles County firefighter was killed and another was injured in an explosion while battling a blaze in the Antelope Valley.
Newswire Services