Wildfire In Southern California Drives People From 10,000 Homes
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Los Angeles County Fire Department says about 10,000 homes have been evacuated as crews protect mountain and canyon communities from a ferocious wildfire that's destroyed 18 houses.
Officials said late Sunday that the blaze had burned through at least 51 square miles of brush north of Los Angeles - but that number is expected to jump Monday when better assessment is done at daylight. It's just 10 percent contained.
Helicopters made water drops through the night.
Numerous agencies from the Sacramento region are sending in strike teams to help fight the fire.
OES Regional Strike team is headed to #SandFire. pic.twitter.com/49JctqeGN5
— Metro Fire of Sacramento (@metrofirepio) July 25, 2016
Grass Valley OES 334 is heading to the #SandFire. They will be paired up with 4 other @Cal_OES engines as part of a #striketeam
— NCCFIRE (@NCCFIRE) July 25, 2016
@CosumnesFire part of Sac County Strike Team to this fire. This fire continues to grow at a dangerous rate. https://t.co/075aLKYkEB
— Cosumnes Fire Dept. (@CosumnesFire) July 25, 2016
The Fire Department's incident web page says about 20,000 residents have been ordered from their homes. New evacuations were put in place Sunday as the blaze roared to the northeast through Angeles National Forest toward the city of Acton.
Metrolink commuter rail service has been canceled between the Acton, Palmdale and Lancaster stations.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.