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| Fire menaces Los Angeles suburbs | Fire menaces Los Angeles suburbs |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A wildfire whipped up by near-hurricane force winds has forced thousands to flee their homes in the northern foothill suburbs of Los Angeles. | A wildfire whipped up by near-hurricane force winds has forced thousands to flee their homes in the northern foothill suburbs of Los Angeles. |
| The fire near the community of Sylmar has burnt through 2,600 acres (1,050 hectares), destroying a mobile home park and 10 houses, officials said. | The fire near the community of Sylmar has burnt through 2,600 acres (1,050 hectares), destroying a mobile home park and 10 houses, officials said. |
| Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa warned that the city's power supply was threatened by the fire. | Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa warned that the city's power supply was threatened by the fire. |
| Further west, another fire continues to burn in the wealthy town of Montecito. | Further west, another fire continues to burn in the wealthy town of Montecito. |
| The Sylmar fire broke out late on Friday and spread rapidly, whipped up by hot winds of up to 76mph (122 km/h). | The Sylmar fire broke out late on Friday and spread rapidly, whipped up by hot winds of up to 76mph (122 km/h). |
| Hospital evacuated | Hospital evacuated |
| Officials have ordered residents of Sylmar and nearby Porter Ranch to evacuate their homes as the flames quickly jumped the wide Interstate 5 and Highway 210. Both roads have been closed to traffic. | Officials have ordered residents of Sylmar and nearby Porter Ranch to evacuate their homes as the flames quickly jumped the wide Interstate 5 and Highway 210. Both roads have been closed to traffic. |
| Critical care patients were evacuated from the Olive View-UCLA Medical Centre as the fire approached at midnight on Friday, causing a three-hour power failure. | Critical care patients were evacuated from the Olive View-UCLA Medical Centre as the fire approached at midnight on Friday, causing a three-hour power failure. |
| More than 600 firefighters are battling the blaze on the edge of the Angeles National Forest, relying on water-bombing helicopters and planes in the hilly terrain. | More than 600 firefighters are battling the blaze on the edge of the Angeles National Forest, relying on water-bombing helicopters and planes in the hilly terrain. |
| Shifting winds have pushed the fire in two directions - toward the San Gabriel Mountains in the national forest and towards the northern suburbs of Los Angeles. | Shifting winds have pushed the fire in two directions - toward the San Gabriel Mountains in the national forest and towards the northern suburbs of Los Angeles. |
| "Near-hurricane winds made it very difficult for firefighters," said Los Angeles deputy fire chief Mario Rueda. | "Near-hurricane winds made it very difficult for firefighters," said Los Angeles deputy fire chief Mario Rueda. |
| LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said the fire could cut the transmission lines supplying electricity to the city. | LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said the fire could cut the transmission lines supplying electricity to the city. |
| "We may have to move to rolling blackouts," he said, urging residents to conserve power. | "We may have to move to rolling blackouts," he said, urging residents to conserve power. |
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| Fire crews battle the wildfire in Montecito | Fire crews battle the wildfire in Montecito |
| The cause of the Sylmar fire is not yet known. It broke out as crews were still battling another major blaze about 80 miles (130km) to the west, in the wealthy enclave of Montecito, near Santa Barbara. | The cause of the Sylmar fire is not yet known. It broke out as crews were still battling another major blaze about 80 miles (130km) to the west, in the wealthy enclave of Montecito, near Santa Barbara. |
| Thousands of residents have had to flee that fire, burning since Thursday. | Thousands of residents have had to flee that fire, burning since Thursday. |
| At least 100 homes have been destroyed or damaged in the secluded area that is home to celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Rob Lowe, Michael Douglas and John Cleese. | At least 100 homes have been destroyed or damaged in the secluded area that is home to celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Rob Lowe, Michael Douglas and John Cleese. |
| Multi-million dollar homes have been turned into smouldering piles of rubble surrounded by a grey, ash-coated landscape. | Multi-million dollar homes have been turned into smouldering piles of rubble surrounded by a grey, ash-coated landscape. |
| At least 13 people have been treated for burns or smoke inhalation. | At least 13 people have been treated for burns or smoke inhalation. |
| In that fire too, hot winds have whipped up the flames as they burnt through brush and trees which have seen little rain in recent months. | In that fire too, hot winds have whipped up the flames as they burnt through brush and trees which have seen little rain in recent months. |
| Are you in Los Angeles? Have you been affected by the wildfires? Send in your comments and experiences. | |
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