A fierce fire fueled by strong winds spread across Southern California on Tuesday, prompting authorities to issue an evacuation order for several thousand people.
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Around 5,700 people are being asked to leave flame-threatened areas in a rural region southeast of Los Angeles.
The “Highland Fire” that broke out on Monday afternoon stretched over 900 hectares on Tuesday morning and could not yet be contained by the fire department.
The flames destroyed three buildings and six other buildings were damaged.
More than 300 firefighters are currently fighting the fire, supported by water bombers.
The strong winds made it difficult for firefighters to respond, a spokeswoman for the Riverside County Fire Department told AFP.
“The biggest problem right now is the strong winds,” she explained. “It’s also a question of topography – the fire sinks and settles in many valleys and ravines.”
Gusts of up to 30 miles per hour are expected during the day, according to the National Weather Service.
Hot, dry Santa Ana winds are common in the southwestern United States during fall, increasing fire danger in this extremely fire-prone region.
The last very wet winter, followed by an exceptionally wet remainder of 2023, led to explosive vegetation growth across much of California after years of drought.
Experts had warned that this vegetation could dry out and fuel fires in a region hard hit by climate change.
Scientists regularly point out that climate change is affecting our weather behavior by making dry periods longer and more intense and rainy periods more intense.