California: Fires Devour 12,000 Acres and Displace Hundreds

Authorities reported that a wildfire northwest of Los Angeles on Sunday forced the evacuation of over a thousand people from an open recreation area and consumed more than 12,000 acres. About 400 firefighters, equipped with seventy fire trucks and two bulldozers, are battling the blaze, which is only 2 percent contained according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire is raging south of Gorman, California, approximately 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The California Department of Fire stated that the fire, which started Saturday afternoon, is moving southeast towards Pyramid Lake. About 1,200 people from the Hungry Valley recreation area, which features trails for motorcycles and off-road vehicles, have been evacuated since the outbreak of the fire. Two buildings have been destroyed so far. Efforts to contain the wildfire are hampered by high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds, and these conditions are expected to continue in the coming hours. Water-dropping aircraft are working to halt the spread of the fire, while firefighters are taking all necessary measures to gain further control over the situation.