Firefighters in California are battling three major wildfires in the mountains east of Los Angeles, which have destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands to evacuate. The wildfires have burned nearly three times as much acreage as all of 2023 combined, threatening tens of thousands of homes and other structures across Southern California. While no deaths have been reported, at least a dozen people, mainly firefighters, have been treated for injuries, mostly heat-related.
The Bridge Fire in the small community of Wrightwood has burned more than a dozen homes, prompting authorities to urge residents to evacuate. The fire moved quickly through complex terrain, leaving residents less time to evacuate than usual. The full extent of the damage caused by the fires is still unclear.
The three major blazes include the Airport Fire in Orange County, which has burned over 35 square miles and is 5% contained; the Line Fire in the San Bernardino National Forest, which has burned 57 square miles and is 18% contained; and the Bridge Fire east of Los Angeles, which has burned 78 square miles, destroyed at least 33 homes, and forced the evacuation of 10,000 people. The cause of the fires varies from heavy equipment operation to arson, and containment efforts are ongoing.
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