Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County due to the fire.
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Before the latest Blue Cut Fire broke out Tuesday, 8,000 California firefighters had already been battling eight large wildfires across the state. The fire closed Interstate 15 and Highway 138 – the two key routes in the area – clogging traffic and making it more hard for residents to evacuate.
Flames trapped six firefighters who were defending homes in Swarthout Canyon.
Another major fire has been burning 100 miles north of San Francisco since Saturday.
San Bernardino County Fire Department Battalion Chief Mark Peebles says it’s very concerning and, in his words, “This is not the time to mess around”.
Crews gained ground on a massive wildfire that destroyed 175 homes, businesses and other structures in a small California town while charring almost 7 square miles, fire officials said Tuesday.
Wildfires have burned more than 112,950 acres across California this year, and the worst of the fire season is yet to come. Authorities said two firefighters suffered minor injuries, and 700 personnel were deployed.
The 15 Freeway was closed on both sides through the Cajon Pass.
Cal Fire said Wednesday morning that the fire is threatening 34,500 homes and is an “imminent threat to public safety, rail traffic and structures”.
Investigators in Northern California said Tuesday that they had been building a case against the suspected arsonist, 40-year-old construction worker Damin Anthony Pashilk, for more than a year. The blaze spread over bone-dry hillsides and toward the San Bernardino National Forest, destroying homes and structures.
The fire burned more than 273,000 acres in San Diego County and destroyed more than 2,000 homes in the region.
A combination of high winds, high temperatures and low humidity in California’s fifth year of drought made for prime wildfire conditions, Mr Poole said.
Officials stated that these numbers recorded are the estimated total since the fire began on Tuesday morning in Cajon Pass.
Chimney Fire in central California for his part swallowed almost 2800 hectares near the town of San Luis Obispo, in full wine region, destroying 12 homes.
The main communities forced to evacuate were the ski resort of Wrightwood and the desert town of Phelan. It was 60 percent contained and threatens more than 400 structures.
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Fire crews gained some significant ground on a massive Northern California wildfire that has destroyed 175 homes, businesses and other structures and charred almost 7 square miles.
