Central California issues evacuation orders after wildfire burns 72,000 acres
At least three people were reported injured, and more than 450 structures were under threat by the Gifford fire, officials said on Monday.
The fire had scorched more than 72,000 acres (29,000 hectares)as of Monday evening, after the blaze grew out of several smaller fires that erupted Friday along State Route 166 between Santa Maria and Bakersfield.
The fire was burning along coastal Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, north of Los Angeles.
By Monday night, the fire was considered 5% contained, according to the CalFire state agency. Officials had earlier cautioned residents conditions could rapidly change due to erratic fire behavior. Hotter and drier weather in the forecast is expected to 'facilitate rapid and sustained fire growth', according to an incident report issued on Monday.
More than 1,000 firefighters were scrambling to make progress against the flames, before so-called sundowner winds whip up around dusk. The National Weather Service had said gusts could reach 25mph (40km/h) in the fire area.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
One motorist suffered burn injuries after getting out of his vehicle and being overrun by flames and was forced to be hospitalized, according to Flemming Bertelson, a US Forest Service spokesperson. Two contract workers helping firefighters also suffered injuries when their all-terrain vehicle overturned.
Ranchers were also forced to evacuate cattle as aircrafts conducted water drops on rapidly spreading flames, the Associated Press reported.
Don Fregulia, an operations section chief for the California interagency incident management team, said in a Monday afternoon update that firefighters were battling 'extremely challenging and difficult terrain' in the San Rafael Wilderness area, which is part of the national forest. He said smoke was making it difficult for aircrafts to see and authorities were using infrared. There was cleaner air on the northern area of the fire, he said, and firefighters had some success containing the spread in certain areas.
A heatwave could exacerbate fire risks later this week, with temperatures expected to climb above 100F (38C) in parts of inland southern California from Wednesday through at least Saturday, the LA Times reported. The heat is also expected to impact inland areas in the northern part of the state.
Conditions across California continue to be primed for high fire risk after a warmer and drier spring left landscapes parched. Fire activity typically accelerates in the state around the end of summer and into autumn, but wildfire activity has already been trending above normal, according to CalFire.
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