(San Bernardino) Evacuations were expanded Saturday as a wildfire continued to burn in the San Bernardino National Forest, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, California, amid a multi-day heat wave across the region.
By Saturday afternoon, the fire had charred about 28 square kilometers, causing a thick cloud of black smoke to cover the area.
The fire broke out on Thursday evening. Its causes are under investigation.
About 500 firefighters are battling the blaze, aided by helicopters dropping water over houses and hills, as well as by planes.
Firefighters said the blaze had “significant growth potential” in the next 12 hours.
The fire produced dense clouds of smoke. Flames can be seen on hilltops.
No injuries were reported and no homes or structures were damaged or destroyed.
The National Weather Service said downtown Los Angeles reached a temperature of 44 degrees Celsius on Friday, only the third time since 1877 that temperature has been observed there.