WRIGHTWOOD: A wildfire in the hills near Los Angeles exploded overnight, torching dozens of homes as its footprint grew 1,000 percent by Wednesday. The bridge fire is one of three wildfires that have broken out around the United States’ second-largest city, fanned by a punishing heat wave and fanned by gusty winds. Authorities issued widespread evacuation orders as the fire tore through the towns of Wrightwood and Mt Baldy, destroying at least 33 homes, several cabins and racing at a ski resort. “We live in a canyon, so the fire was coming right there and there was no way to get out of there,” local resident Jenny Alaniz told KTLA television station emotionally. “I got the dogs out. Our house is going to burn,” she sobbed. An AFP journalist in Wrightwood witnessed the aftermath of the fire, where charred shells of buildings and vehicles stood shrouded in smoke. The fire broke out early Sunday afternoon in the Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles and had grown to about 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) by Tuesday. But by Wednesday afternoon, it had grown to 49,000 acres (20,000 hectares), fueled by thick brush that sent flames into the San Bernardino County community of Wrightwood and the Mountain High ski resort. Resort staff said the resort was largely unscathed. “All major elevators and buildings survived with little or no damage,” a social media post said. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said three people — including one of his deputies — were trapped by the fire in a remote area near Mount Baldy. According to him, rescue work is made difficult by thick smoke and blocked roads. “Our air rescue crew is working to get them out once the smoke clears, and LA County Fire is also trying to get a 4×4 to get them out,” he told reporters. He said all three are fine.
