Southern California wildfire forces evacuation of hundreds of homes

[webfact]

Southern California wildfire forces evacuation of hundreds of homes

By Steve Gorman

 

The frame of a car stands burned as a fast-moving wildfire, called the Lake Fire, burns in a mountainous area of Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles, California, U.S. August 13, 2020. REUTERS/Patrick T. Fallon

 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A California wildfire forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes as it raged largely unchecked through densely forested mountains north of Los Angeles that last burned some 50 to 100 years ago, fire officials said on Thursday.

 

The blaze has scorched some 10,500 acres (4,249 hectares) since erupting Wednesday afternoon near Lake Hughes in the Angeles National Forest. As of Thursday afternoon, it remained at zero percent containment, despite a light morning rain over the area, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Andrew Mitchell said.

 

Temperatures in the region were expected to rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit later in the day, he said.

 

"This will be a major fire for several days," U.S. Forest Service regional Fire Chief Robert Garcia told reporters.

 

The precise cause of the blaze, dubbed the Lake Fire, was under investigation, though human activity was likely to blame, Mitchell said.

 

No casualties were reported but the blaze prompted the mandatory evacuation of some 500 homes in communities about 40 miles (65 km) north of downtown Los Angeles, Mitchell said.

 

Thick, extremely dry vegetation, some of which has not burned in about a century, was fueling the flames that roared swiftly up steep canyons and hillsides, he said.

 

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said the fire had destroyed several structures, though many were saved "because of the actions of the firefighters last night, who were up all night."

 

The Angeles National Forest, covering some 700,000 acres, is a popular outdoor destination for millions who live in the sprawling L.A. metropolitan area on its southern flanks.

 

In drought-stricken Colorado, the Grizzly Creek Fire, burning near Glenwood Springs, about 150 miles west of Denver, has blackened 6,251 acres, according to the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center. The blaze forced officials to close a 25-mile stretch of Interstate 70, the main east-west highway through the mountain corridor.

 

Firefighters had zero containment, and flames threatened a power plant and some residential subdivisions, authorities said.

 

(Reporting and writing by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Peter Szekely in New York; Editing by Bill Tarrant, Tom Brown and Daniel Wallis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-14

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Tug]

Oh boy here we go again sounds like it’s along the grapevine area 

[Cryingdick]

The disturbing thing with this is in recent years it is increasingly arsonists that do this.

Edited August 14, 2020 by Cryingdick

[gazza4]

6 hours ago, Tug said:

Oh boy here we go again sounds like it’s along the grapevine area 

But why weren't the leaves being raked?

[Dap]

9 hours ago, Tug said:

Oh boy here we go again sounds like it’s along the grapevine area 

Yeah, Angeles Crest - always a corridor and never good

 

[bkk6060]

Maybe all that smoke will choke off the virus.

[ifmu]

14 hours ago, Tug said:

Oh boy here we go again sounds like it’s along the grapevine area 

wow a calif boy ... 

[Tug]

5 hours ago, ifmu said:

wow a calif boy ... 

Yup born and bred when I wasent sailing lots to be proud of 5 largest economy on the planet a tremendous bread basket feeding millions very progressive and democratic don’t forget the summer of love I was old enough to be involved all that beeing said were is that guy with the rake and that golden shower that could put some embers out lol

[OtinPattaya]

 

2 hours ago, Tug said:

Yup born and bred when I wasent sailing lots to be proud of 5 largest economy on the planet a tremendous bread basket feeding millions very progressive and democratic don’t forget the summer of love I was old enough to be involved all that beeing said were is that guy with the rake and that golden shower that could put some embers out lol

I'm going to hazard a wild guess and suggest that the rest of the United States at this point is willing to sacrifice the tax dollars coming from California, if only you let the rest of the country be. Plenty of Americans who'd love to see Cali burn to the ground. 

Edited August 14, 2020 by OtinPattaya

[Tug]

51 minutes ago, OtinPattaya said:

 

I'm going to hazard a wild guess and suggest that the rest of the United States at this point is willing to sacrifice the tax dollars coming from California, if only you let the rest of the country be. Plenty of Americans who'd love to see Cali burn to the ground. 

Awwww jealous of the tremendous success California has been all thease years?

Edited August 14, 2020 by Tug