A fast-moving wildfire is burning through an area of California known as the Badlands, in Riverside County east of Los Angeles, forcing road closures and prompting evacuations as crews work to bring the flames under control. It is the largest of several fires currently active in the region.
The fire, reported as the Shore fire, was first detected yesterday afternoon and grew quickly in size. By the latest account more than 2,000 acres had burned as the flames raced through the canyons of the area, driven on by the dry terrain.
The blaze forced the closure of part of Interstate 10, one of the major highways in the region, which was shut down for several hours as the fire moved close to the route. The closure added to the disruption caused by the fire as it spread.
Evacuation orders and warnings have been put in place in the surrounding areas as a precaution. Authorities have urged residents near the fire to follow instructions while the situation continues to develop and crews remain on the scene.
It is not the only fire burning in southern California. Several large wildfires have been active across the area, including one in northern Los Angeles County in the Stevenson Ranch area that erupted near homes overnight, raising concern for nearby residents.
The conditions have made the firefight more difficult. It has been hot across the region this week, with daytime temperatures in the mid-90s, and the landscape is already very dry, allowing fires to spread quickly once they take hold.
With the Riverside County fire the largest of those currently burning and the weather offering little relief, crews face a demanding effort to contain the flames and protect the homes and communities that lie near the fire's path.