close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

Evacuations ordered as wildfire rages in national forest foothills east of LA
news

Evacuations ordered as wildfire rages in national forest foothills east of LA

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) — Evacuations were ordered Saturday after a wildfire ravaged the foothills of a national forest east of Los Angeles, amid a days-long heat wave that sent temperatures in the region soaring above triple digits.

The so-called Line Fire was raging out of control along the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) east of Los Angeles. As of Saturday afternoon, the blaze had charred about 11 square miles (28 square kilometers) of grass and chaparral, sending a thick cloud of dark smoke blanketing the area.

The fire broke out on Thursday evening and its cause is being investigated.

About 500 firefighters battled the blaze, supported by helicopters that dropped water on houses and hills, and by planes.

Firefighters said the fire had the potential to become “major” in the next 12 hours.

There were no injuries and no homes or other buildings were damaged or destroyed.

According to the National Weather Service, downtown Los Angeles hit 113 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday, marking the third time since 1877 that a high of 113 degrees Fahrenheit or higher has been recorded.