The Blue Cut fire is one of almost 30 major blazes reported to have scorched at least 530 sq miles (1,370 sq km) in eight Western states this week, in the midst of a wildfire season stoked by prolonged drought and unusually hot weather, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. The weather at the time was hot, dry and windy – conditions not expected to begin easing until late Thursday or Friday.
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It was not immediately clear how many homes had burned but San Bernardino County Fire Department spokesman Louis Penna said in an email that at least dozens of structures had been destroyed.
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.
They will be heading north to Phelan, California, and plan to stay with family there unless the winds shift and force evacuations there as well.
Much of the fire is burning in uninhabited areas between the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains, but populated areas are being affected.
More than 1,500 personnel were on the scene responding to the blaze as well as 178 engines, 26 crews, 10 air tankers and 17 helicopters, according to the San Bernardino National Forest.
Also destroyed were 213 outbuildings, said Brad Pitassi, a spokesman for the multi-agency fire command.
The Soberanes Fire in Monterey County remains 60 percent contained and is now 81,396 acres. “It burns that much quicker, that much hotter”, Collins said.
The fire in the Cajon Pass region 60 miles east of Los Angeles is just 4 percent contained and evacuation orders remain in effect for more than 82,000 people. Many are not being allowed to return home until damaged power lines are back up and running. All evacuations have been lifted.
High winds, high temperatures and low humidity fuel the fire, known as ‘Blue Cat Fire, ‘ which has exhibited extreme fire behavior and has had rapid rates of spread.
Wildfires across the country in recent years have grown more ferocious and expensive to fight.
A burned out residence stands amid rubble on Highway 138 after the Blue Cut Fire burned through Phelan, Calif., on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. Interstate 15 from Southern California to Las Vegas through the Cajon Pass has now reopened to travelers.
Residents in Lower Lake and surrounding communities are still recovering from California’s third-most-destructive wildfire previous year, which burned 120 square miles and cost more than $1.5 billion in damages. It was also the costliest on record with $2.1 billion spent to fight fires from Alaska to Florida. What’s being called the Blue Cut fire, because of its location, continues to threaten homes and structures.
The equipment manager of the U.S. Olympic fencing team was among those who lost their homes to a Northern California wildfire. Matthew Porter was in Rio with the medal-winning team when the house burned.
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Damin Pashilk, a 40-year-old former construction worker, appeared in court on Wednesday and did not enter a plea.
