Southern California wildfires spread rapidly; local authorities issue evacuation orders

A wildfire broke out in Southern California, USA, over three days, during strong wind conditions, and the fire spread rapidly. Local authorities issued multiple evacuation orders and began investigating the cause of the fire. The fire department stated that the wildfire erupted around 11 a.m. local time on the 3rd in the area east of Moreno Valley, Riverside County, California. By 3:30 p.m. that day, the burned area had expanded to 11.5 square kilometers. Moreno Valley is located more than 100 kilometers east of Los Angeles, the largest city in California. The fire-affected area is inhabited, but the population density is not high. The local government issued multiple evacuation orders, but it is not yet clear how many households are involved. Maggie Klein De La Rosa, an official from the Riverside County branch of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said that the fire scene was “very windy.” Spokesperson Alex Isagire stated that the strong winds worsened the spread of smoke, and many residents in nearby cities saw billowing black smoke and smelled the strong odor of smoke, calling to inquire about the situation. The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and other areas, which will last until the afternoon of the 4th, with gusts expected to reach up to 80 kilometers per hour. The warning states that strong winds may break tree branches or cause power outages in some areas. (CCTV News)