This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53632779
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Apple Fire: Massive California wildfire forces evacuations | Apple Fire: Massive California wildfire forces evacuations |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Fire crews in California are battling a massive wildfire that has forced thousands of people from their homes east of Los Angeles. | Fire crews in California are battling a massive wildfire that has forced thousands of people from their homes east of Los Angeles. |
More than 1,300 firefighters, backed by helicopters and water-dumping planes, have been tackling the blaze dubbed the Apple Fire which started on Friday. | More than 1,300 firefighters, backed by helicopters and water-dumping planes, have been tackling the blaze dubbed the Apple Fire which started on Friday. |
Parts of the fire are on steep, rugged hillsides, making it hard for fire engines to reach. | Parts of the fire are on steep, rugged hillsides, making it hard for fire engines to reach. |
Around 7,800 residents have been told to evacuate the area. | Around 7,800 residents have been told to evacuate the area. |
Images show plumes of smoke filling the sky over the mountainous region. In a tweet, the National Weather Service said some smoke had blown east to Phoenix, Arizona - nearly 300 miles (482km) away. | |
The wildfire began as two adjacent blazes in Cherry Valley, an area near the city of Beaumont. | The wildfire began as two adjacent blazes in Cherry Valley, an area near the city of Beaumont. |
It has since stretched out to 26,450 acres (10,703 hectares), according to Cal Fire, the agency battling the wildfire. | |
As of Monday morning, fire-fighters say it is 5% contained. | |
The government body said the blaze had been fuelled by high temperatures, low humidity and dry vegetation in the area. | The government body said the blaze had been fuelled by high temperatures, low humidity and dry vegetation in the area. |
Here are some key guidelines for protecting yourself against Covid-19 if you must evacuate to a shelter: | Here are some key guidelines for protecting yourself against Covid-19 if you must evacuate to a shelter: |
The US Forest Service told the Riverside Press-Enterprise, a local newspaper, that because the fire was on rugged terrain, it was dangerous for firefighters to try and surround it. | The US Forest Service told the Riverside Press-Enterprise, a local newspaper, that because the fire was on rugged terrain, it was dangerous for firefighters to try and surround it. |
"We don't want to put fire-fighters in a dangerous situation," said spokesperson Lisa Cox. "It's burning in a straight line up a mountain." | "We don't want to put fire-fighters in a dangerous situation," said spokesperson Lisa Cox. "It's burning in a straight line up a mountain." |
Ms Cox on Monday told CBS News: "Given the fuel, given the weather, given the topography and where this is going, this fire is not going to stop tonight, it's going to keep going." |