California wildfire looks like ‘Gates of Hell’ as out-of-control blaze destroys homes and races to outskirts of Los Angeles
FIERCE California wildfires look like the “Gates of Hell” as the relentless blaze continues to destroy homes and race to the outskirts of Los Angeles.
More than 275 wildfires have broken out within the past 24 hours fuelled by the hot, gusty winds and dry combustible land, injuring several people.
Shocking video footage shows fast-moving flames sweep through California’s neighbourhoods during the night.
Strong winds have caused the inferno to move from town to town within hours.
The fire raged out of control along the northern edge of Los Angeles early Friday, forcing thousands of people from their homes as firefighters battled flames from the air and on the ground.
The blaze erupted late Thursday along the northern tier of the San Fernando Valley as powerful Santa Ana winds swept Southern California, fanning several destructive blazes.
RAGING INFERNO
The Los Angeles Fire Department said the fire had grown to more than 6 square miles (15.5 square kilometres) before dawn and an estimated 12,700 homes were under evacuation orders.
Helicopters made repeated water drops as crews on the ground attacked flames in and around homes.
The Fire Department said homes were destroyed but did not have an estimate.
Evacuations were also still in effect in the inland region east of Los Angeles where a fire erupted Thursday and raged through a mobile home park in the Calimesa area of Riverside County.
Seventy-four buildings were destroyed, others were damaged and Riverside County authorities were trying to determine if anyone was missing.
One person who couldn’t be immediately located was Don Turner’s 89-year-old mother.
The largest blaze so far was in Sandalwood, Calimesa, where 500 acres were torched – aided by 55mph winds.
The area, around 70 miles east of Los Angeles, set alight after the rubbish on a garbage truck caught fire, reported.
The burning trash was dumped onto dry land by the driver where it ignited.
1,500 ACRES ENGULFED
Captain Fernando Herrera of California Fire said the fire could engulf 1,500 acres in total.
He blamed “wind influx” in Santa Ana making the incident worse, “obviously this fire just completely went out of control.”
Due to the Santa Ana wind influx, obviously this fire just completely went out of control. It started just eating up vegetation as fast as the eye can see
Captain Fernando Herrera of California Fire Department
“It started just eating up vegetation as fast as the eye can see,” Capt. Herrera added.
On the fire department website they wrote: “Multiple structures destroyed and numerous medical emergencies.”
They added that there was “no further information”.
About 160 students sheltered in place as smoke enveloped nearby Mesa View Middle School before buses arrived and evacuated them to another school outside the fire zone.
Fire officials were investigating what caused the trash in the truck to catch fire in Calimesa.
Residents in the area were ordered to evacuate their homes, where 120 firefighters were dispatched to tackle the blaze.
More than 24 mobile homes had been destroyed in the area, other fires wreaked havoc on power-lines and engulfed land.
In California state, more than two million people were left without power, according to .
Energy company Pacific Gas & Electric cut power to 22 counties in California in a bid to stop their equipment starting fires.
The impacts to individual communities, to individual people, to the commerce of our state, to the safety of our people has been less than exemplary. This cannot be the new normal
Marybel Batjer, president of the California Public Utilities Commission
Marybel Batjer, president of the California Public Utilities Commission, described the situation as “unacceptable”.
She said: “The impacts to individual communities, to individual people, to the commerce of our state, to the safety of our people has been less than exemplary.
“This cannot be the new normal.”
THREE MAJOR FIRES SO FAR
A second dangerous fire was in Moreno Valley, around 20 miles away from Calimesa, where around 400 acres were lost.
The area was reported to have burned with a “moderate rate of speed” and like the others had 0 per cent containment.
After flames consumed the first 100 acres, it engulfed another 100 in 90 minutes and then claimed another 200 in two hours.
The area was evacuated and the cause of the fire was unknown.
In El Cerrito firefighters battled to contain the third largest inferno, the “Eagle fire”, that tore through more than 30 acres.
Its origin was also not known, at this point, but an investigation was said to be underway.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.