The flames are spreading in mountainous terrain, with strong gusts of wind hampering aerial firefighting operations.
Firefighters are struggling to contain a rapidly spreading wildfire north of Los Angeles in the state of California. Strong winds are making the firefighting efforts more difficult. Local authorities have evacuated at least 1,200 people from the threatened recreational area of Hungry Valley, according to a Sunday report from the Associated Press, cited by TASR.
The fire broke out on Saturday afternoon local time near a highway about 100 kilometers northwest of Los Angeles. The flames quickly spread over an area of more than 41 square kilometers. Two buildings in the evacuated recreational area were destroyed.
This is the first major wildfire near Los Angeles this year, and the cause is under investigation. Local authorities have not reported any injuries so far.
The flames are spreading in mountainous terrain, and strong gusts of wind are making it difficult to fight the fire from the air. “The wind is dispersing the water everywhere except where we need it. So, it’s a challenge,” said Kenichi Haskett, a local fire department official.
The fire was approaching Pyramid Lake, whose surroundings were closed on Father’s Day. As of Sunday, no homes were threatened by the flames. However, authorities warned residents of the town of Castaic, home to about 19,000 people, to be prepared for evacuation if the situation worsens.
