The 15 Freeway reopened Thursday, leaving one additional closure: Highway 2, from Highway 138 to the Los Angeles County Line.
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Both sides of Interstate 15, which travels through the Cajon Pass, were open Thursday and some evacuations were lifted as the ferocious, so-called Blue Cut Fire charred 31,600 acres in San Bernardino County. Beverly White reports for the NBC4 News on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016.
Scenes of destruction were everywhere Thursday after a huge wildfire sped through mountains and high desert 60 miles east of Los Angeles so swiftly that it took seasoned firefighters off guard.
Firefighters have centered efforts on Lone Pine Canyon Road, the back door into Wrightwood, in hopes of preventing the blaze from jumping over the ridge.
On the state’s central coast, crews are beginning to gain ground on a 7,300-acre fire that has destroyed homes near San Luis Obispo.
It was revealed, however, that 96 homes and 213 outbuildings were destroyed by the blaze, a lot of them in its first fierce days on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Forest Service officials say the fire is the most active in the Gobbler’s Peak portion south of Wrightwood. It fed on the thick, parched brush, and engulfed an unknown number of homes and structures, according to fire officials. As the fires continue to grow, firefighters are not as equipped as they would like to be; Years of drought in California have hindered local fire-fighting resources. The weather at the time was hot, dry and windy – conditions not expected to begin easing until late Thursday or Friday.
Some families who fled a massive wildfire in Southern California are starting to learn about the fate of their homes.
A group of animal rescue volunteers found the house in smoldering ruins – with no signs of the pets.
Cal Fire reported on Wednesday morning that the Clayton fire has consumed just under 4,000 acres and is now 40 percent contained. The fire is now 22 percent contained.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. (AP) – A wildfire destroyed at least 10 homes and forced some 4,000 of people to flee their homes as flames jumped a road and moved into a Northern California town located miles away from a devastating wildfire almost a year ago.
The wildfire was started amid extremely hot, dry conditions and low humidity, making the battle more hard for firefighters.
In mountains north of San Francisco, a 6-square-mile blaze was 75 percent contained after destroying 299 structures, including 175 homes and eight businesses, in the working-class community of Lower Lake.
More than 1,700 firefighters are battling the blaze that started Saturday and spread to the community’s downtown area and many residential neighborhoods. “But the possibility is still there for explosive growth”, said Brad Pitassi, another fire spokesman.
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Authorities say three people have been arrested on suspicion of grand theft auto and looting for attempting to steal a flatbed truck and other items from a house that was evacuated because of a Southern California wildfire.
