forest fires

Firefighters struggle to contain blaze in southern California

Agence France-Presse

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Firefighters struggle to contain blaze in southern California

APPLE FIRE. Horses graze as flames from the Apple fire skirt a ridge in a residential area of Banning, California on August 1, 2020.

Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP

The Apple Fire burns more than 20,000 acres since it broke out on Friday, July 31

More than 2,200 firefighters were battling a blaze that was burning out of control Monday, August 3, in southern California, threatening thousands of people and homes east of Los Angeles.

The Apple Fire, which broke out Friday near the city of San Bernardino, has so far burnt more than 20,000 acres (8,000 hectares), sending up columns of smoke visible for miles.

Record-low moisture in the vegetation, low humidity, and high temperatures are fuelling the blaze, the United States Forest Service said.

At least 2,600 homes and nearly 7,800 people were evacuated. Officials said it was not clear when they might be able to return.

By early Monday, about 2,260 firefighters backed by helicopters, water-dumping planes and trucks were working to put out the fire.

Crews managed to contain 5% of the fire by Monday, after losing control of the blaze during Sunday afternoon.

There were no reports of casualties, and the only damage so far has been to two buildings and one home.

The edges of the fire are burning on rugged hills hard for crews to reach, authorities said.

Dense vegetation fueled the blaze near homes, said Fernando Herrera, fire chief in Riverside County, while hot and dry conditions Monday will help the flames keep alive.

Officials said the fire may have been set deliberately and a probe is underway. – Rappler.com

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