Around 1,200 people have been forced to evacuate their homes as wildfires continue to spread outside Los Angeles.
The devastating wildfire, called the Post Fire, started Saturday just 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles and has burned more than 14,000 acres as fire crews battle the blaze.
As of Sunday night, only two percent of the fire was contained, as authorities said strong winds of up to 50 mph are spreading the flames across the region.
The cause of the Post Fire is still unknown, but it is believed to have started at 1:45 p.m. Saturday in Gorman, near Hungry Valley Park, according to officials.
Other reports show the fire is spreading near the main highway of Interstate 5, toward Pyramid Lake.
Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) firefighters and other firefighters respond to the Post Fire
Firefighters work under a smoldering hillside left by the Post Fire on Saturday.
Wind gusts are forecast to reach up to 70 mph overnight as officials warned that evacuations, carried out by the California Park Services, could intensify.
Stunning footage showed firefighters battling the huge bushfires, with helicopters brought in to drop water from above to contain the flames.
In anticipation of further damage, evacuation warnings were also sent to areas west of Interstate 5 between Pyramid Lake and Gorman.
More than 400 firefighters are working with 70 engines and two bulldozers to put out the flames.
“Crews are currently working to construct perimeter fire lines around the remains of the fire,” reads a Cal Fire update from Sunday.
“Planes are working to stop the advance, but they have limited visibility.”
A helicopter drops water as fire crews clean up after the Post Fire sweeps through
Firefighters work against the advance of the Post Fire on Sunday
More than 14,000 acres have burned as of Sunday night, and fire crews were only able to contain two percent of the wildfires.
The devastating wildfire ignited Saturday just sixty-five miles northwest of Los Angeles.
Post Fire devastates Hungry Valley State Vehicle Recreation Area in Lebec
The Post Fire marks the first major wildfire of the year in Los Angeles County, although California has recorded a total of 1,769 wildfires this year.
Firefighters working in sweltering conditions and steep terrain rushed to extinguish the fires soon after they were reported.
Kenichi Haskett, section chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, told the Associated Press that their efforts have been hampered by unpredictable winds that blow embers across the dry region.
‘When it’s windy, it just sprays water where we don’t need it. So that’s a challenge,” Haskett said.
No injuries or damage to homes have yet been reported, however authorities warned residents of Castaic, home to about 19,000 people, that they should prepare to leave if the fire moves further south.
‘If you are in a warning zone, be prepared with a ‘go bag’, with clothes for the night and your cell phone, your medicines and your glasses. Have your car refueled,” Haskett said. “Be prepared to evacuate.”
The National Weather Service issued a ‘Red Flag’ fire warning along the I-5 corridor on Sunday due to high winds and low humidity.
“Wind gusts 45 to 55 mph today, increasing to 60 to 70 mph tonight, strongest on ridge tops,” the service posted on X.
The warning will remain in effect until 5 pm Monday local time.
A U.S. Forest Service firefighter conducts a controlled burn as the Post Fire ravages Castaic, California
Firefighters working in sweltering conditions and steep terrain rushed to extinguish the fires soon after they were reported.
The Post Fire (pictured) marks the first major wildfire of the year in Los Angeles County, although California has recorded a total of 1,769 wildfires this year.
Authorities warned that dry conditions and strong winds were hampering their efforts to contain the fires.
A firefighter observes a plume of smoke from the Post Fire on Saturday, June 15.
The low humidity and steep terrain of the affected area make firefighters’ efforts difficult.
Firefighters in the region are also battling a second fire in Hesperia, San Bernardino County.
The second fire broke out after 6 p.m. Saturday in the 18000 block of North Highway 173, the LA Times reported.
Meanwhile, in Northern California, a small wildfire sparked Sunday prompted evacuation orders and warnings for a sparsely populated area near Lake Sonoma.
The so-called Point Fire sent up a huge plume of dark smoke as it tore through brush and timber about 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of San Francisco. It was 15% contained.
