Over the weekend, large-scale wildfires broke out in multiple areas of Southern California. Fueled by extreme heat, the fires quickly spread and continued to grow, forcing nearby residents to evacuate.
On Saturday, June 15th, at 1:47 pm, a large brush fire erupted near the 5 Freeway in the Gorman area on the northwest edge of Los Angeles County. According to data from the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LAFD), the fire came on aggressively, burning thousands of acres of land in just a few hours.
As of around 2:00 pm on Sunday, the wildfire, dubbed the “Post Fire”, had scorched 12,265 acres of land, threatening multiple structures, with a containment rate of only 2%.
The fire has spread from Hungry Valley Park to Lake Pyramid towards the southeast, with firefighters constructing containment lines and deploying air tankers to halt its advance, despite limited visibility.
Due to the threat of the wildfire, local authorities issued evacuation orders for the areas west of the 5 Freeway between the Gorman area and Lake Pyramid, including the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area, where public entry is prohibited during the evacuation.
Additionally, the California State Parks has evacuated 1,200 people from the vicinity of Hungry Valley Park, with Lake Pyramid also being closed.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Red Flag Warning for the 5 Freeway and the mountain areas of Ventura County, stating that dangerous fire weather conditions are expected to persist at least until Monday afternoon. The NWS cited strong winds and lower humidity as contributing factors to the rapid spread of the wildfires.
The LAFD advised the public to remain vigilant and be prepared to evacuate safely based on wildfire developments, with a significant increase in winds expected from 9 pm to midnight. Gusts could reach speeds of 30 miles per hour, with even stronger winds on mountain ridges exceeding 50 miles per hour.
The wildfires have also severely impacted local traffic, with 400 firefighters deployed in firefighting efforts, fortunately, with no reports of casualties thus far.
In addition to the “Post Fire”, wildfires have also occurred simultaneously in San Bernardino County in Southern California, as well as in San Benito County, El Dorado County, and Butte County in Northern California.
The “Hesperia Fire” in San Bernardino County is posing a significant challenge. This wildfire, burning since Saturday evening until Sunday morning, has consumed 1,330 acres of land with a current containment rate of only 7%. Fueled by strong winds, the fire continues to spread northward.
The San Bernardino County Fire Department noted decreased fire activity in the evening and rescue personnel will continue to strengthen containment lines and clear hot spots at the scene. Highways 138/173 and Arrowhead Lake Road have been closed, with evacuation warnings issued for nearby communities. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The occurrence of wildfires will also impact air quality in the surrounding areas. Authorities remind residents to avoid strenuous outdoor or indoor activities during poor air quality.