People evacuate as wildfires in California and Nevada dangerously approach and meteorologists predict unprecedented temperatures
• California's Line Fire expands dramatically: The wildfire has scorched 20,553 acres by Sunday, having ignited at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains on Thursday. The blaze has significantly multiplied in size since Saturday morning. Authorities urged residents in various areas to evacuate as the massive inferno sent bright orange flames and dense, towering clouds of smoke into the atmosphere. Over 1,800 firefighters are battling the fire, which had no containment as of Sunday evening, according to Cal Fire. The blaze has wounded three individuals, though authorities have yet to disclose the severity of the injuries.
Wild gusts and critically dry vegetation are exacerbating the fire's behavior, as per Cal Fire on Sunday. Smoke remains an impediment for both firefighters and residents, and afternoon thundershowers may spawn new ignitions.
“Sweltering temperatures paired with thunderstorms will test firefighters throughout the ensuing days,” Cal Fire stated.
The fire prompted a smoke warning to be issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Therefore, the Rancho Cucamonga Fire District advised residents to stay inside if feasible, keep windows and doors shut, and minimize outdoor activities.
A flash flood warning was issued in Riverside and San Bernardino counties until Sunday evening, as reported by the National Weather Service office in San Diego.
The storms are causing localized, heavy rainfall in the vicinity of the Line Fire. The warning signifies that flash flooding is underway or expected, posing potential harm. Landslides are likely, particularly in regions with recent burn scars.
Radar detected thunderstorms producing torrential rain at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour in the warned area.
• Line Fire produces its own weather phenomena: As it ravages acres of land, it gives birth to its own weather patterns in the form of pyrocumulus clouds. These clouds can induce unstable winds that aid in propelling the fire ahead, expanding its reach and challenging firefighters. If temperatures are high enough, the clouds can generate lightning and rain, termed pyrocumulonimbus. They can soar to heights of 50,000 feet and spawn their own storm systems.
• Thousands forced to leave their homes in California mountain communities: With the flames nearing dangerously, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department ordered mandatory evacuations for around 4,800 homes in the Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake areas. Hundreds more have been evacuated in Highland, Forest Falls, Mountain Home Village, and Angelus Oaks. “The Line Fire is highly active and spreading in flammable vegetation,” Cal Fire reported. “There are currently 36,328 structures at risk, including single-family homes, commercial buildings, and miscellaneous structures.”
Firefighters have managed to shield homes from the flames, according to Cal Fire Battalion Chief Brent Pascua, who spoke to CNN on Sunday.
“Firefighters have been remarkably successful, despite the unpredictability of this fire, and we strive to maintain that status by staying vigilant,” Pascua told CNN's Fredricka Whitfield.
He further pointed out that due to the unpredictability of the fire, all aspects of the blaze are concerning for firefighters. “We must ensure that crews are positioned on all sides of the fire to hold their ground,” Pascua stated.
• Bridge Fire encroaches on Angeles National Forest: A blaze has speedily expanded to 800 acres since erupting Sunday within the Angeles National Forest, just north of the Los Angeles metro area. Numerous roads in the park have been shut down, park officials reported in a Facebook post.
• Boyles Fire threatens Clearlake, California: Structures are ablaze near Clearlake, California, approximately 100 miles west of Sacramento. At least 30 structures are engulfed, and around 4,000 residents have been displaced by the growing 76-acre fire, which Cal Fire reported is 10% contained.
• California proclaims state of emergency: Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County due to the Line Fire. He has secured aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assure access to essential fire resources, as per a statement.
• Nevada declares state of emergency: On Sunday, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo announced a state of emergency due to the blaze, as per his announcement.
• Nevada wildfire ravages structures: The Davis Fire, a treacherous, wind-driven blaze south of Reno, has torched about 6,500 acres, damaged or destroyed 14 structures, and remains 0% contained as of late Sunday evening. Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue stated, “Heavy aerial resources and multiple agencies are working tirelessly to contain this wind-driven wildfire.”
The fire has led to the evacuation of approximately 14,000 people in affected areas of Washoe County, and more than 6,000 residents are without power, the emergency declaration outlined.
“Gusty winds are expected throughout the week,” an update from the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest noted, adding that customers currently without power should be prepared for extended outages, and those with power should be prepared for potential additional power cuts due to the fire’s volatile nature.
NV Energy stated that it switched off power to prevent additional ignitions and safeguard emergency responders. It also asked those still with power and near the fire to prepare for potential power cuts.
“Power has been restored to 12,500 customers, yet 6,300 remain without power tonight into September 9th,” NV Energy reported in a social media statement.
• Intense heat intensifies the region's suffering: Extreme heat warnings and alerts are currently active in southern California, Desert Southwest, and northern Great Basin. The temperatures in Southern California range between 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit – approximately 10 to 20 degrees higher than usual for the region. Consequently, an air quality alert has been issued due to the heatwave and increased particle pollution levels brought about by wildfire smoke, as per the National Weather Service.
Residents on edge as raging flames encroach
The Line Fire has expanded significantly over a 30-hour period, escalating from around 1,180 acres at 5 p.m. PT on Friday to over 17,200 acres by Saturday evening.
As the wildfire ravages the San Bernardino County mountains, some residents have attempted to halt its progress towards their homes.
Highland resident Brian Gano informed KCAL News, a CNN affiliate, that he was attempting to douse the flames with his high-pressure hose alongside his wife and son.
“The flames were almost upon us due to the wind shift,” Gano recounted. “I have a powerful hose in my backyard.”
Another resident, Diya Hirpara, revealed that she had been purchasing essential groceries in preparation for potential evacuation.
“It was genuinely scary,” Hirpara said. “We’re essentially teetering on the edge, just waiting.”
Larissa Gonzalez shared images of a storm enveloping the Line Fire in Lake Arrowhead on Saturday. “There was a significant amount of thunder, lightning, and wind emanating from that flare-up; the wind was fanning the flames over that ridge,” Gonzalez told CNN. She watched the storm for about an hour while parked in front of the Rim of the World High School to observe its direction and decide if evacuation preparations were necessary.
Tourists in the area were also affected by the smoke and flames.
Mark Weidhase explained to CNN that he and his girlfriend visited the mountains to escape the heat while visiting from Canada. As they were departing Big Bear and passing through Running Springs on Saturday, they encountered the Line Fire. Weidhase mentioned that they stopped on Highway 330 to get a closer look at the enormous wildfire after noticing it was closed and learning about an evacuation order. “I adore the mountains, but not when they're in flames,” he stated.
Various agencies, including Cal Fire, San Bernardino County Fire, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office, are collaborating to manage the fire. The American Red Cross has set up an evacuation shelter at a nearby church for individuals seeking refuge from the wildfire.
California is experiencing an active fire season. Wildfires have charred over 838,000 acres throughout the state this year, in contrast to 255,144 acres at the same time last year, as per Cal Fire.
To add to the turmoil, a pair of earthquakes struck near Ontario, California, within a half-hour of each other on Saturday.
The first earthquake measured 3.5 magnitude at 10 a.m. local time, and the following earthquake registered 3.9 magnitude, according to data from US Geological Survey. The seizures were felt by people living as far as Los Angeles.
CNN’s Faith Karimi, Ashley R. Williams, Artemis Moshtaghian, Sarah Dewberry, and Eric Zerkel contributed to this report.
• The intense heat and critically dry vegetation are contributing to the Line Fire's unpredictable behavior, making it challenging for firefighters.
• The ongoing Line Fire has resulted in the creation of pyrocumulus clouds, which can induce unstable winds and aid in the fire's spread, as per Cal Fire.
