The New York Times, citing the state Civil Defense, reported that wildfires in Southern California have expanded significantly and are out of control, prompting local authorities to issue mandatory evacuation orders for more than 5,000 people.
A wildfire in Southern California expanded significantly on Saturday, spreading across nearly 17,000 acres by Sunday morning.
Firefighters are struggling to contain fires in the San Bernardino Mountains while also dealing with a dangerous heat wave that is expected to affect parts of Southern California and the Southwest until at least Monday, according to the newspaper.
A red flag was issued on Sunday for an area stretching from the Pacific Coast to the mountains northwest of Los Angeles, including parts of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
The San Bernardino County fire, known as the “Line Fire,” started Thursday in the town of Highland, east of Los Angeles, the newspaper added, citing local authorities.
Crews were unable to extinguish the fire, which threatened the lives of more than 8,000 buildings, as of Sunday morning, according to the local civil defense unit.
According to the newspaper, continued heat increases the risk of new fires.
