California brush fires damage homes, prompt evacuations
CALABASAS, Calif. -- A fast-moving brush fire sweeping through hills northwest of downtown Los Angeles damaged homes and prompted neighborhood evacuations, CBS Los Angeles reported.
The blaze was one of several that erupted late Saturday afternoon in Calabasas and West Hills, burning at least 200 acres in a matter of hours. By late Saturday, it was 15 percent contained, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
The Old Fire, as it was named, burned along ridgelines at Mulholland Highway near Old Topanga Canyon Road. Fifty-foot-high flames torched trees and brush very close to million-dollar Spanish-style homes below.
The blaze damaged several homes and other structures, although more specific information on the structures lost was not available.
Residents of about 200 homes in three neighborhoods below the hillsides were ordered to evacuate, CBS Los Angeles reported.
Fire Capt. Keith Mora estimated some 500 people were impacted by the mandatory evacuation, and he strongly urged others to leave the area overnight.
A Red Cross evacuation center was set up at Agoura High School in nearby Agoura Hills and shelters were also opened for small and large animals.
Fire dispatcher Cindy Marshall said more than 250 firefighters were battling the flames along with water-dropping helicopters. More aircraft had been ordered.
Temperatures were in the mid-90s Saturday afternoon at the height of the fire. Smoke could be seen for miles.
Authorities said the blaze may have started when a car hit a pole, knocking down a power line.
Elsewhere, a brush fire in north San Diego County burned at least 70 acres along Interstate 15 in Temecula, according to CBS affiliate KFMB.
State fire officials said no homes were threatened, but authorities closed southbound lanes of the freeway as they fought the fire, which was about 20 percent contained as of late Saturday.
In New Mexico, a wildfire was burning nearly 12 square miles in the San Mateo Mountains near Magdalena, about 100 miles southwest of Albuquerque. The fire was caused by lightning and is 20 percent contained.
Arizona firefighters were battling a much larger blaze. The Juniper Fire just south of the town of Young had scorched more than 28 square miles in the Tonto National Forest. That fire was also 20 percent contained and was caused by lightning.
Fire officials said the extreme heat and a dry winter mean there's a high risk of wildfires. Summer has typically been considered wildfire season but experts now say blazes happen year-round.