Wildfires ravage homes near Los Angeles

WrightwoodThree wildfires are raging out of control in the western United States, destroying dozens of homes and forcing evacuations amid an intense heat wave, authorities reported Wednesday.

The first fire front, dubbed “Bridge,” reached the towns of Wrightwood and Mount Baldy, north of Los Angeles, destroying at least 33 homes, several cabins and a ski resort.

The community had to flee. “We live in the canyon, the fire was coming straight in, and we couldn’t get anything out,” said Jenny Alaniz, a local resident, to KTLA.

“I rescued the dogs but our house is going to burn down,” she sobbed.

An AFP journalist in Wrightwood witnessed the damage, including charred remains of buildings and vehicles that remained shrouded in smoke.

The blaze began Sunday in the Angeles National Forest and by Tuesday had grown to about 1,600 hectares.

But by Wednesday morning, the fire had already reached 19,400 hectares, fueled by temperatures of up to 43ºC and strong gusts of wind.

Police said they were working to rescue three people trapped on Mount Baldy.

Southeast of Los Angeles, the Airport Fire had burned 8,900 hectares of vegetation by Wednesday, damaging several homes. Seven people were injured, according to firefighters.

The front has been spreading since Monday and has charred canyons and hillsides, including Santiago Peak, where there are radio and television towers, although the fire appears to have left them intact.

The fire also raced downhill toward Lake Elsinore. Videos from the scene show some structures and vehicles consumed by the flames.

Photographs taken by an AFP journalist show imposing walls of fire.

Northeast of Los Angeles, the “Line” front consumed nearly 14,000 hectares, forcing the closure of some access roads and the evacuation of several communities in a tourist area.

The week-long heat wave that has gripped much of Southern California began to ease Wednesday, and authorities hope the drop in temperatures will make it easier to fight the blaze.

Wildfires are a common occurrence in California and other parts of the western United States at this time of year. But the ones in 2024 are significant.