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photo-article-logo Monday, 23 December 2024

In pictures: Wildfires in Southern California torch dozens of homes, ski resort; thousands evacuated

Three major wildfires have been endangering tens of thousands of homes and other structures across the region after they sprung to life during a triple-digit heat wave over the weekend

Reuters Wrightwood, California Published 12.09.24, 01:27 PM

Three Southern California wildfires torched dozens of mountain homes, tore through a ski resort and forced thousands to evacuate in towns and cities east of Los Angeles on Wednesday.

A Cal Fire firefighter tackles the Bridge Fire threatening mountain communities to the northeast of Los Angeles, in Wrightwood, California, U.S.
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A Cal Fire firefighter tackles the Bridge Fire threatening mountain communities to the northeast of Los Angeles, in Wrightwood, California, U.S.

Reuters
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Around 40 homes and cabins burned in the villages of Mount Baldy and Wrightwood and flames swept through the nearby Mountain High ski resort in San Bernardino County, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported. The blaze, named the Bridge Fire, exploded to over 48,000 acres (19,000 hectares), becoming the largest in the state and one of four burning within sight of each other.

Cal Fire firefighters tackle the Bridge Fire threatening mountain communities to the northeast of Los Angeles, in Wrightwood, California, U.S.
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Cal Fire firefighters tackle the Bridge Fire threatening mountain communities to the northeast of Los Angeles, in Wrightwood, California, U.S.

Reuters

The Southern California fires have blackened over 105,000 acres of scrub, brush and forest, an area a third the size of Los Angeles.

The Airport Fire burns along the hillside as residents watch from the shoreline in Lake Elsinore, California, U.S.
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The Airport Fire burns along the hillside as residents watch from the shoreline in Lake Elsinore, California, U.S.

Reuters

The Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties destroyed dozens of homes in El Cariso Village and Decker Canyon as it grew to over 22,000 acres, according to authorities and local news reports.

The Airport Fire burns along the hillside in Lake Elsinore, California, U.S.
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The Airport Fire burns along the hillside in Lake Elsinore, California, U.S.

Reuters

"There was no more exit, you had to drive through the flames to get out," Ryan LaMothe, whose home was destroyed by the Airport Fire, told local television news station KTLA5.

The Bridge Fire burns the mountain communities to the northeast of Los Angeles, in Wrightwood, California, U.S.
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The Bridge Fire burns the mountain communities to the northeast of Los Angeles, in Wrightwood, California, U.S.

Reuters

Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency and said he had secured federal funds to fight the fires.

Tinder-dry scrub and gusting winds are driving flames up canyons and mountainsides during a severe heatwave that scientists blame on climate change. Over a dozen injuries have been reported.

Line Fire burns in the mountains over Highland, California, U.S.
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Line Fire burns in the mountains over Highland, California, U.S.

Reuters

People taped gaps around their doors and schools closed at least 10 districts because of smoky air from another blaze in San Bernardino County, the Line Fire.

The county sheriff's office arrested a 34-year-old man for allegedly starting the blaze on Sept. 5.

Smoke from Line Fire and Bridge Fire casts an orange hue across the sky, in Oro Grande, California, U.S.
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Smoke from Line Fire and Bridge Fire casts an orange hue across the sky, in Oro Grande, California, U.S.

Reuters

Around 18,000 people have been ordered to evacuate homes in San Bernardino County neighborhoods like East Highlands which butt up against the mountains.

Law enforcement said they were patrolling the largely deserted neighborhoods to prevent looting.

A helicopter flies, as the Airport Fire burns in the hills of Orange County, California, U.S.
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A helicopter flies, as the Airport Fire burns in the hills of Orange County, California, U.S.

Reuters

Wildfires are a natural occurrence in the area but the ability of firefighters to just let them burn has been hampered by people moving there after being priced out of Los Angeles. Many new homeowners struggle to get fire insurance.

People look on, as the Airport Fire burns in the hills of Orange County, California, U.S.
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People look on, as the Airport Fire burns in the hills of Orange County, California, U.S.

Reuters

The area of land burned in California this year is already double that of 2023, when the state enjoyed more moisture, according to data from California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CAL FIRE.

An aerial tanker combats the Airport Fire, a wildfire burning in the hills of Orange County, California, U.S.
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An aerial tanker combats the Airport Fire, a wildfire burning in the hills of Orange County, California, U.S.

Reuters

The United States is experiencing a strong wildfire year with 6.9 million acres burned to date, compared with an annual, full-year average of around 7 million acres over the last decade, according to National Interagency Fire Center data.

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Wildfires California Evacuation Los Angeles
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