Southern California fires
Winds drove wildfires through Southern California again today, which forced the evacuation of thousands of people and destroyed hundreds of homes. Wind gusts of up to 80 mph (128.7 kph) combined with unseasonably high temperatures and low humidities to create dangerous conditions for fire ignition and for firefighting. The Tea Fire in Santa Barbara, about which I wrote yesterday, is still only 40% contained.
The Sayre Fire, in the northern San Fernando Valley, forced 10,000 people from their homes and burned 8000 acres. As of this evening, the Sayre Fire is only 20% contained. More than 5000 residents of Sylmar were ordered to flee their homes today, and 165 homes plus 500 mobile homes were destroyed today. At least 1000 more homes were threatened. At times today, interstate highways 5, 405, and 210 were closed by the fires.
A brush fire that began in Corona, south of Los Angeles, moved into Yorba Linda and destroyed at least 265 apartments and homes and burned 800-1000 acres. The fire caused at least 14,000 people to flee their homes. A second fire is also burning through Orange County.
High voltage power lines along the I-5 corridor were also threatened today, and rotating power outages, as well as re-routing electrical power, were used as workarounds after power through the threatened lines was turned off for the safety of firefighters.
CNN has provided a map to assist folks unfamiliar with the area.
-Bill at Cheshire Cat Photo™
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