A crazy wildfire had broken out in a wooded basis close to Southern California dam which led authorities to evacuate almost 300 residents later on Saturday.
Shortly after 6 p.m. the fire had been reported in the Prado Dam Flood Control Basin. According to Capt. Mike Mohler of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the fire rapidly reached to a minimum of 175 acres in Chino Hills, a suburb which is about 35 miles east of Los Angeles. The blaze has been named as the “Highway Fire.”
The fire crew on the ground had faced obstacles and had a very tough time accessing the raging blaze. There were more than 800 firefighters from 6 fire agencies working on fighting the blaze.
2 air tankers and 2 helicopters have also been fighting the blaze, which according to the officials is spreading more rapidly than usual for this time of year due to the dry conditions created by California’s drought.
Mohler said that “The fire is fueled by thick brush in a riverbed that hasn’t burnt in years. The fire is creating its own weather, so firefighters are having difficulty getting in there.”
The flames of the fire went around to about half-mile north of a residential area alongside the border of the cities Corona and Norco. The authorities declared a mandatory evacuation for 300 residents in Bluff Road, Homestead Road and Stagecoach Road.
“The fire is heading toward a populated area,” Mohler said.
The fire could be seen from State Routes 71 and 91 and spread a huge cloud of smoke that was visible miles from the accident. The wildfire is currently under investigation.
