LOS ANGELES-At least 96 homes and more than 200 other structures-sheds, barns and garages-have been destroyed by a large wildfire east of Los Angeles, fire officials said on Friday.
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In rural Santa Barbara County, a 33-square-mile wildfire that forced the evacuation of two campgrounds was 20 percent contained.
Michael Eberle, a resident of the affected area, said his family packed everything they needed to survive outside of the house, including a folder of important papers in preparation for their evacuation.
On Thursday evening some people in the towns of Hesperia, Oak Hills and Phelan will be allowed to return home, the San Bernardino sheriff’s office said.
Officials have still not released how many homes have been damaged or destroyed in the blaze, which started on Tuesday and quickly exploded. Some 34,500 homes are in the evacuation area.
The southbound lanes of Interstate 15 in Cajon Pass reopened late Thursday morning. More than 200 outbuildings were also destroyed, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire, said. Friday, all evacuation orders issued in Lower Lake were lifted.
More than 80,000 residents were told to evacuate their homes Tuesday.
The Clayton Fire that began August 13 and burned hundreds of structures in Lake County – including 189 homes – is now 75 percent contained at 3,929 acres.
“They’ve been extremely hot, the weather has been over 100 degrees, although today is probably the first day we’ve had temps below 100”, said Major Adrien Leon, San Bernardino County Firefighter.
Veteran fire fighters say a combination of summer heat, drought, bone dry humidity and winds sweeping up the Pass provided the flawless conditions for the Blue Cut fire.
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.
Firefighters continue to battle flames that have climbed the rugged flanks of the San Gabriel Mountains, threatening communities including the ski town of Wrightwood at an elevation of almost 6,000 feet.
Since the beginning of the year, some 4,600 fires have ripped through some 300,000 acres of Californian scrub and forest.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
A helicopter makes a water drop during the Soberanes fire off of Rancho San Carlos Road near Carmel Valley, California, July 29, 2016.
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The fire command says the destructive blaze has scorched more than 49 square miles as of Thursday morning, up from 40 square miles Wednesday night.
