A wildfire in California has grown to more than 17,400 acres, forcing evacuations of nearby towns.
Firefighters continued to battle the Rhine Fire, which continued to grow on Sunday and is currently burning near Highland, California.
The wildfire grew rapidly overnight despite starting several days ago, and was zero-containment as of 9 a.m. Sunday, according to Cal Fire.
In response to the fire, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County, allowing the state to use federal funding to help with firefighting efforts and allowing the state to quickly provide assistance to individuals who need help finding employment or gathering copies of records after the fire.
FEMA has also agreed to provide California with a Fire Management Assistance Grant, which will allow the state to claim 75 percent of its firefighting costs from the federal government.
“I thank President Biden for his swift approval of funding for the work of our firefighters and emergency responders battling these fires and protecting our communities,” Governor Newsom said in a statement. “It is important that residents in affected areas remain vigilant and prepare to evacuate immediately if requested by local authorities.”
The fire triggered a wave of evacuations in nearby communities, with evacuation notices issued to all residents of Running Springs and Arrow Bear Lake, as well as some areas of Highland.
A total of 35,405 buildings are currently at risk of fire, a figure that includes homes, commercial buildings and other “smaller structures,” according to fire officials.
The fire began around 6:30 p.m. Thursday near Baseline and Alpine roads in the suburb of Highland. The fire grew to 3,832 acres by Friday night, doubled in size by Saturday, and then exploded again overnight on Saturday.
Weather conditions including lightning, strong winds and high temperatures, combined with difficult terrain near the fire, are hindering firefighters’ efforts to put out the blaze, the fire department said. Korea TLA.
“Vegetation remains extremely dry with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday and relative humidity dropping into the mid-teens,” CAL FIRE said in a statement on its website. “Thunderstorms are possible in the area on Sunday. [but] Extreme heat warnings are in effect for the entire region and are expected to continue through the weekend.”
So far, three firefighters have been injured while fighting the blaze.
