Raging Wildfires in Southern California: Communities Devastated

Southern California wildfires have devastated mountain homes, a ski resort, and forced thousands to evacuate. Covering over 48,000 acres, the Bridge Fire is the largest of multiple blazes in the state. With Governor Gavin Newsom declaring a state of emergency, tinder-dry scrub and climate change exacerbate the crisis.

Southern California wildfires torched dozens of mountain homes, tore through a ski resort, and forced thousands to evacuate in suburbs east of Los Angeles on Wednesday. Around 40 homes and cabins burned in the villages of Mount Baldy and Wrightwood as flames swept through the Mountain High ski resort in San Bernardino County, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported.

The blaze, named the Bridge Fire, has exploded to over 48,000 acres, becoming the largest in the state and one of four burning within sight of each other. Southern California fires have blackened over 105,000 acres of land, an area nearly a third the size of Los Angeles. The Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties destroyed dozens of homes as it grew to over 22,000 acres, according to authorities and local news reports.

"There was no more exit, you had to drive through the flames to get out," said Ryan LaMothe, whose home was destroyed by the Airport Fire, to local television news station KTLA5. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency and secured federal funds to combat the fires.

Tinder-dry scrub and gusting winds are fueling the flames up canyons and mountainsides amid a severe heatwave that scientists link to climate change. Over a dozen injuries have been reported. People have taped gaps around their doors as at least 10 school districts have closed due to smoky air from another blaze, the Line Fire, in San Bernardino County.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated that deputies are patrolling evacuated neighborhoods to prevent looting. The San Bernardino Sheriff's office arrested a 34-year-old man for allegedly starting the Line Fire.

While wildfires are common in the mountains east of Los Angeles, the influx of new residents has complicated efforts to let the fires burn naturally. Many new homeowners struggle to get fire insurance. CAL FIRE data shows that the area burned in California this year has already doubled compared to 2023.

The United States is experiencing a significant wildfire year with 6.9 million acres burned to date, compared to an annual full-year average of around 7 million acres over the last decade, according to National Interagency Fire Center data.

(With inputs from agencies.)