David Swanson/AFP/Getty Images
Firefighters respond to the Post Fire at Hungry Valley State Vehicle Recreation Area in Lebec, California, on Sunday.
CNN —
A fire in Los Angeles County forced hundreds of people to evacuate a state park and burned 11,000 acres, officials said Sunday, just a day after it began.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles warned that wind gusts could reach 60 to 70 mph on Sunday night, potentially fueling the Post Fire. A red flag warning was issued for the I-5 corridor in Los Angeles County and the mountainous areas of Ventura County until 5 p.m. Monday.
The wildfire broke out Saturday afternoon in Gorman, an unincorporated community in northwest Los Angeles County. Cal Fire said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
The California State Parks Department evacuated 1,200 people from Hungry Valley Park, Cal Fire said. As of Saturday evening, the fire was at zero percent containment, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and two commercial buildings were damaged.
Evacuation orders have been issued for areas west of Interstate 5 between Pyramid Lake and Gorman, and evacuation warnings have been issued for areas south of Pyramid Lake between the Aldridge Route and the Los Angeles County line.
The fire department said crews were trying to contain the fire and that “aircraft are working to block its advance but visibility is limited.”
Márcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Firefighters battle the growing Post Fire on Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Gorman, California.
Pyramid Lake is also closed due to the fire threat, according to the fire department.
Fire officials said temperatures are expected to rise slightly and humidity levels will decrease in the affected areas for the rest of the weekend. Winds are expected to pick up toward the evening, reaching maximum gusts of 30 mph, with gusts of over 50 mph possible on ridge tops.