A massive wildfire continues to rage across areas near Los Angeles, as it triggered forced evacuations today in California and threatened residential neighborhoods and commercial facilities. The fire, which erupted late on Monday, is widely spreading in dry, wind-whipped hills and has already charred hundreds of acres.
By Tuesday morning, it had burned up over 200 acres of land and sent thousands of residents out of their homes. Evacuations were ordered in some areas by the Los Angeles Fire Department and the residents within affected zones were to leave their homes. The fire burns at a rate that has already caused havoc with severe destruction but no reports of death.
Hundreds of firefighters and air support have been deployed by the authorities to fight the fire, but with high winds and very dry conditions, it has become tough to contain it. According to CAL FIRE, this fire is termed a “critical fire.” It may deteriorate the situation if wind picks up in the region.
In addition to evacuations, the fire has caused major transportation route disruptions in the region since several roads and highways have been closed. The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and other parks in the area have also been closed as a precaution. Local officials have encouraged residents to keep abreast of evacuation orders and updates through official channels.
The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings to the region due to the fire conditions that exist with dry vegetation and gusty winds. The firefighters are doing their best to save the houses as well as the natural beauties around the city. So far, there is no apparent cause for the fire, and the authorities are investigating the cause of the origin.
The situation in California where drought is compounded by high temperatures has become ideal for wildfires. They warn that firefighting teams working on shifts day and night will take months to battle the fire season.
