Thousands of people in California were evacuated early on Tuesday as firefighters battled to save homes from a wildfire that grew rapidly during the night, a fire official said. A man was charged with setting the blaze.
The El Cerrito fire, in suburban Riverside County, east of Los Angeles, had burned across 2 000ha, up from 640ha late on Monday, and was only 10% contained.
Between 3 000 and 4 000 homes had been evacuated since midnight because they were threatened by the blaze, said Rick Griggs, an engineer with the California department of forestry (CDF).
Griggs said he had unconfirmed reports that four buildings — possibly outbuildings — had been destroyed or damaged.
Late on Monday, Richard Drew Brown was arrested and charged with ”recklessly causing the fire with equipment”, said Andy Spada, a CDF spokesperson. Spada said he didn’t have any details on the arrest or charges.
Another Riverside County blaze had destroyed or damaged ”multiple structures” during the night, Griggs said. He did not know if the buildings were homes.
Southern California’s 2004 fire season was officially opened on Monday with record temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius.
Thousands of firefighters were on the job and nearly a dozen had been treated for heat stroke, dehydration or injuries. At least two people fleeing a fire in the Los Padres National Forest were treated for smoke inhalation and cuts and bruises.
The Temecula fire, southeast of Los Angeles, had burned 1 560ha late on Monday. Authorities ordered a mandatory evacuation of several homes in the path of the flames and earlier had advised residents of about 100 homes to evacuate.
That fire destroyed several homes, as well as a house and workshop owned by the University of California. It was 30% contained early on Tuesday and about 1 000 firefighters were on the lines as wind blew the flames at up to 32kph.
Mike Witham fled his trailer in a truck with his motorcycle and his dog. He said he tried to stop to help other dogs, but flames trapped him along with police officers and firefighters, who waited four hours inside a nearby home as firefighters battled back the blaze.
”I will tell you, I was one scared puppy,” said Witham (57).
Firefighters said they had managed to slow a blaze that charred a large area near the Camp Pendleton Marine base in San Diego County. It was about 75% contained early on Tuesday, with no structures damaged and no injuries reported.
Full containment was expected on Wednesday, said a Camp Pendleton spokesperson, Staff Sergeant Jim Goodwin. On Sunday, 80 families were urged to voluntarily leave their homes.
The start of the fire season was declared three weeks earlier than it was last year because of scant rainfall, high temperatures and a bark beetle infestation that has killed thousands of trees. — Sapa-AP