Wildfire in California forces evacuation of more than 10,000 people

Photo: Wildfire in Camarillo, California, November 6, 2024

Strong winds have fueled a fast-moving California wildfire that has destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands to evacuate. Forecasters have warned of “extreme and life-threatening” conditions as firefighters try to contain the blaze in difficult weather conditions, the Associated Press reported.

The Mountain Fire burning northwest of Los Angeles has forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 people and threatened about 3,500 structures. Thick smoke blanketed several communities, reducing visibility and hampering firefighters' efforts. Helicopters were deployed to drop water, but winds gusting to 60 mph (98 kph) prevented the aircraft from being used to their full potential, officials said.

At the request of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, federal aid was provided to support firefighting efforts, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Wednesday.

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Firefighters said two people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation. No serious injuries were reported.

The National Weather Service issued a rare “severe emergency” warning, saying strong winds could cause the fires to spread quickly.

With wind gusts expected between 50 and 100 mph (80 to 160 kph) and humidity as low as 8%, parts of Southern California face “extreme and life-threatening” conditions Thursday, forecasters said.

California utilities have begun shutting off power to prevent more blazes. Power lines and other infrastructure have been the cause of several large and deadly fires in recent years. More than 65,000 customers in Southern California and more than 20,000 in Northern California were without power on Wednesday.

California has a history of devastating wildfires in recent years, including the Woolsey Fire in 2018, which killed three people and destroyed 1,600 homes. The Thomas Fire has destroyed more than 1,000 homes and other buildings in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

By Sergey Daga