Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Fast-moving California wildfire torches hillside homes, forcing evacuations

Damage assessments are underway in a Southern California hillside community after a wildfire suddenly swept through, chasing residents from their homes

Via AP news wire
Wednesday 07 August 2024 06:41 EDT
A camper catches fire as several homes burn as a fast-moving wildfire torched a California hillside community on Monday
A camper catches fire as several homes burn as a fast-moving wildfire torched a California hillside community on Monday

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Damage assessments were underway Tuesday in a Southern California hillside community after a wildfire suddenly swept through, chasing residents from their homes.

Despite the ferocity of the flames Monday afternoon, it appeared that only several homes were damaged or destroyed in San Bernardino, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, said Eric Sherwin, spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

One firefighter was treated for a minor injury but there were no reports of injuries to residents.

“How quickly this fire hit this community,” Sherwin said, "the fact that we have no civilians injured is truly a miracle.”

Several homes burn as a fast-moving wildfire torched a California hillside
Several homes burn as a fast-moving wildfire torched a California hillside

The fire was reported at 2:40 p.m. Monday and stopped progressing about three hours later after scorching 54 acres (22 hectares). Containment was holding at 75%, Sherwin said. Homes on three streets remained under evacuation orders.

Investigators were working to determine the cause of the fire, which erupted amid very dry and hot conditions that have made swaths of California quick to burn this summer.

A man looks at a destroyed home after the Edgehill fire in San Bernardino
A man looks at a destroyed home after the Edgehill fire in San Bernardino (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

In Northern California, firefighters battled the reawakened Park Fire, a massive blaze that re-exploded Monday after several days of slumber and grew by as much as 20 square miles (53 square kilometers), mostly in about 12 hours.

The Park Fire, California’s largest so far this year and the state’s fourth-largest on record, had already scorched nearly 647 square miles (1,676 square kilometers) by Tuesday morning.

Firefighters were told during their morning briefing to focus on safety and to be mindful of extreme fire behavior including intense and rapidly moving flames.

The Park Fire was allegedly ignited by arson on July 24 outside the Sacramento Valley city of Chico, and has destroyed 640 structures and damaged 52.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in