Authorities Seek Help In Determining Start Of Blue Cut Fire
PHELAN (CBSLA.com/AP) — Authorities sought the public's help Friday in their investigation into the start of the Blue Cut Fire, as crews continued to make progress in fighting the blaze that began Tuesday.
Preliminary figures showed 105 homes and more than 216 outbuildings were destroyed in the massive wildfire that has burned more than 37,000 acres and is 68 percent contained, officials said Friday.
Anyone who may have been in or around the area of southbound I-15 between Cleghorn and Kenwood Roads or along Old Cajon Boulevard through this same section between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Tuesday and believe that they may have seen something suspicious is asked to share that information.
If you believe you have information, photos or video of this area in this timeframe, please call 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or on the web at wetip.com.
All calls can remain confidential.
Meanwhile, some residents who were evacuated in South Hesperia, East Oak Hills and West Oak Hills Thursday night began returning home Friday.
But other families are starting to learn about the fate of their homes.
COMPLETE COVERAGE: Blue Cut Fire
Angie Santore was in school when flames roared through the house she shared with her grandparents, four dogs, six cats and a hamster.
The family ended up in a shelter where they learned from animal rescue volunteers that their house was destroyed and their pets were missing.
The Santore family was among some 82,000 residents in mountain and desert communities 60 miles east of Los Angeles who were ordered to evacuate.
Temperatures from the fire raged so hot that they caused the glass on a lamppost at one Phelan home to melt.
Melted glass on lamppost outside home destroyed by #BlueCutFire #Phelan #cbsla pic.twitter.com/gasoE1Syum
— Kara Finnstrom (@KaraFinnstrom) August 19, 2016
No deaths or serious injuries have been reported.
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