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Firefighters increased their containment of a large wildfire in mountains north of Los Angeles on Monday after a weekend of explosive, wind-driven growth.
Thousands told to be ready to evacuate in Southern California’s Post fireThe Associated Press
· Posted: Jun 17, 2024 8:32 AM EDT | Last Updated: June 17
Wildfires burn in Southern California Firefighters were responding to wildfires Sunday in parts of Southern California, including the Angeles National Forest north of L.A.
Firefighters increased their containment of a large wildfire in mountains north of Los Angeles on Monday after a weekend of explosive, wind-driven growth.
The blaze, dubbed the Post fire, was eight per cent after scorching nearly 60 square kilometres and forcing the evacuation of at least 1,200 campers, off-roaders and hikers from the Hungry Valley recreation area.
“That eight per cent is good because it means we are increasing and bolstering our containment lines,” said Kenichi Haskett, a Los Angeles County Fire Department section chief.
Firefighters work against the advancing Post fire on Sunday in Gorman, Calif. Southern California officials said Sunday that wind gusts have hampered some efforts by aircraft crews to drop water and fire retardant. (Eric Thayer/The Associated Press)Firefighters hoped to hold the fire at its current size, but further growth was possible, Haskett said.
The Southern California fire erupted Saturday afternoon near I-5 in Gorman, about 100 kilometres northwest of Los Angeles. Two structures burned within the evacuated recreation area.
‘Have your car fuelled up’Flames were moving toward Pyramid Lake, a popular destination for boaters that was closed as a precaution on Father’s Day. No houses were threatened Sunday, but officials warned residents of Castaic, home to about 19,000 people, that they should prepare to leave if the fire pushes further south.
“If you’re in a warning area, be prepared with a ‘go bag,’ with overnight clothes and your cellphone, your medicines, your glasses. Have your car fuelled up,” said Haskett. “Be ready to evacuate.”
Water is dropped by helicopter as crews fight the Post fire on Sunday in Lebec, Calif. (Eric Thayer/The Associated Press)Low humidity and gusts around 80 km/h were expected throughout the day, and winds could pick up speed after sundown, warned the National Weather Service office for Los Angeles.
About 120 kilometres to the east, the nearly five-square-kilometre Hesperia fire forced road closures and prompted evacuation warnings after it broke out Saturday near mountain communities in San Bernardino County. The blaze was 30 per cent contained after no overnight growth.
Meanwhile in Northern California, a small wildfire sparked Sunday prompted evacuation orders and warnings for a sparsely populated area near Lake Sonoma. The so-called Point fire sent up a huge plume of dark smoke as it churned through brush and timber about 130 kilometres north of San Francisco. It was 20 per cent surrounded after charring nearly five square kilometres of land.
A firefighter on Sunday sprays water on a burning building as the Point fire spreads along West Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg, Calif., in Sonoma County in the northern part of the state. (Noah Berger/The Associated Press)Ben Nicholls, division chief of the Cal Fire district in the area covering the Point fire, said Monday morning that fire activity subsided overnight.
“Forecasted winds are supposed to be less than we experienced yesterday, which should allow the resources assigned for this operational period to build and strengthen the control lines that were put in place yesterday,” Nicholls said in a video briefing.
