82,000 evacuated and 18,000 acres torched to the ground: State of emergency declared in southern California over terrifying wildfire
Officials ordered evacuations Tuesday as fire rapidly engulfed the area called the Cajon Pass
The so-called Bluecut Fire erupted in heavy brush just west of Interstate 15, the main freeway between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area
The inferno prompted orders for residents of the community of Wrightwood, about 75 miles east of Los Angeles, to leave their homes
This is the latest in a series of wildfires that have blackened nearly 300,000 acres of the U.S. West
DailyMail.com
17 August 2016
Authorities in southern California ordered the evacuation of 82,000 people on Tuesday after a wildfire broke out in a mountain pass and rapidly engulfed at least 18,000 acres of terrain.
Officials said about 700 firefighters were battling to control the blaze in an area called the Cajon Pass, the latest in a series of wildfires that have blackened nearly 300,000 acres of the drought-parched U.S. West.
‘It is a very fast-moving fire, it has wind behind it,’ said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Lyn Sieliet.
Six firefighters were trapped by flames in the effort to evacuate residents and defend homes, but managed to escape with two suffering only minor injuries, fire officials said. The men have since returned to duty.
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