Dangerous California Wildfire Explodes In Size

[Purveyor]

Updated 11:18 p.m. ET

LANCASTER, CALIF. A wildfire that destroyed at least six homes, damaged 15 others and threatened hundreds more grew quickly Sunday as it triggered evacuations for nearly 3,000 people and burned dangerously close to communities in the parched mountains north of Los Angeles.

The blaze had burned about 35 square miles of very dry brush in the Angeles National Forest mountains and canyons, some of which hadn't burned since 1929. The fire was growing so fast, and the smoke was so thick, that it was difficult to map the size, U.S. Forest Service Incident Commander Norm Walker said.

"This is extremely old, dry fuel," Walker said at an afternoon news conference.

The fire, which was 20 percent contained, appeared to be the fiercest of several burning in the West, including two in New Mexico, where thick smoke covered several communities and set a blanket of haze over Santa Fe on Saturday. Crews fighting the two uncontained wildfires focused Sunday on building protection lines around them amid anticipation that a forecast of storms could bring moisture to help reduce the intensity of the fires.

The fire raging in Southern California had crews fighting the fire on four fronts, with the flames spreading quickest northward into unoccupied land, authorities said. But populated areas about 50 miles north of downtown LA remained in danger, with more than 2,800 people and 700 homes under evacuation orders in the communities of Lake Hughes and Lake Elizabeth, sheriff's Lt. David Coleman said.

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http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57587264/dangerous-california-wildfire-explodes-in-size/

[cherokeeprogressive]

1. I'm 90 miles ESE as the crow flies and this morning the smoke from the Powerstation fire was

on my eastern horizon as the sun was rising. There was actually smoke overhead in Palm Springs as well. Huge fire. Not good.

I heard on the news though that it's brush that hasn't burned in a LONG time and was pretty much due.

[The Straight Story]

2. A pic from Ridgecrest

A friend of mine from Coyote radio took this earlier today. Normally you can see some mountains....

[pinboy3niner]

3. Pics taken today in the Antelope Valley

Just after 6am, looking due West toward the nearest fire front 14 miles away. The ridgeline obscured by haze at left almost completely disappears when you look farther right...



This view looking AWAY from the fire, toward the East, with the haze covering the Antelope Valley...



By 5:45pm the nearest front was now NNW where the advancing fire was burning in the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve 10 miles away...



One hour later, a zoomed shot in roughly the same direction...



After dark the glow of the fire was almost due North, indicating that the fire had advanced slightly farther Eastward. Prevailing winds continued steady, Eastward and Northward.

Latest media coverage reports that the estimated containment date, which had been set for June 5, has now been changed to June 10.