A wildfire that’s taken out 6,000 acres in a mountainous region of Southern California, and that was only growing stronger on Thursday, has left two firefighters injured, sent several communities packing and destroyed untold numbers of homes.
The fire began about 2 p.m. on Wednesday, and within hours, spread to encompass more than nine square miles, state fire officials told The Associated Press.
A civilian was burned and airlifted to a nearby hospital. Two firefighters were hurt and transported for treatment. And at least a dozen structures have been burned to the ground — but it’s not clear how many of those structures were residences, AP reported.
Video taken from television news helicopters showed a couple of homes in the process of burning.
More than 500 firefighters are on the scene, aided by five helicopters and five air tankers. Several rural communities have been told to evacuate.
Officials don’t know how many residents have been affected by the fires, yet. But they estimated hundreds have evacuated, or been told to flee.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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