A new brush fire erupted north of Los Angeles Thursday night, quickly growing to 750 acres. Firefighters raced to battle the Maria Fire, which began at approximately 6:30 PT, CBS Los Angeles reports.
Earlier in the day, two fast-moving wildfires exploded in Southern California, fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds. One of them, the Hillside Fire in San Bernardino, east of Los Angeles, prompted mandatory evacuations and destroyed at least six homes. Some residents refused to leave.
From CBS News
Latest updates:
- Kincade Fire in Northern California: 76,825 acres burned; 60% contained
- Easy Fire in Southern California: 1,723 acres burned; 10% contained
- Getty Fire in Southern California: 745 acres burned; 39% contained
- 46 Fire in Southern California: 300 acres burned; 15% contained
- Hillside Fire in Southern California: 200 acres burned; 50% contained
- Maria Fire in Southern California: 750 acres burned
- About 53,000 homes and businesses are still affected by Pacific Gas & Electric’s power shutoff after it cut electricity to millions of customers in an effort to prevent new blazes
The 46 Fire in neighboring Riverside County has burned at least five structures. Investigators said it began at the end of a police chase, when a stolen car barreled through fences into a large open field, damaging its tires and disabling the car. Heat from the car’s wheels apparently ignited a fire under it that engulfed it and sparked a vegetation fire in the field. The car’s two occupants of the car tried to flee on foot but were caught, police said. All evacuation orders related to the 46 Fire were lifted Thursday night, according to Cal Fire Riverside.
Crews faced a major battle Wednesday in Simi Valley, northwest of Los Angeles, as they took on another blaze — the Easy Fire. The flames came dangerously close to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and nearby neighborhoods. About 30,000 people were forced to evacuate.
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Maria Fire burns through 750 acres
A new brush fire erupted in Southern California Thursday night, CBS Los Angeles reports, quickly growing to encompass 750 acres. The Maria Fire is located on the top of South Mountain near Santa Paula, an hour north of Los Angeles.
Firefighters responded to the blaze around 6:30 p.m. PT. Evacuations were ordered for homes near the south end of the fire.
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