Description
Mandatory evacuations are expanding as a wildfire burns in the foothills of a national forest east of Los Angeles. Tens of thousands of homes and other buildings are being threatened by the so-called Line Fire.
The blaze was burning uncontrolled along the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest, about 65 miles (100 kilometers) east of LA.
As of Sunday morning, the blaze had charred about 27 square miles (70 square kilometers) of grass and chaparral.
The cause is under investigation.
More than 600 firefighters were battling the blaze, along with water-dropping helicopters and other aircraft.
County officials, who declared an emergency Saturday evening, issued evacuation orders for Running Springs, Arrowbear Lake, areas east of Highway 330 and other regions.
“Extreme temperatures, wind and lightning strikes have allowed the fire to grow rapidly,” the county said in a statement.
No injuries were reported, and no homes or other structures had been damaged or destroyed.
AP Video shot by Eric Thayer