A wildfire in the foothills of a national forest east of Los Angeles, called the Line Fire, has burned 27 square miles of grass and chaparral. The fire created pyroculumus clouds, bringing gusty winds and lightning strikes. Evacuation orders were issued for several areas, with more than 35,000 structures threatened. Three firefighters were injured. Thunderstorms were expected to make containment more challenging.
Residents evacuated with only essential items, and the fire affected popular mountain towns in the San Bernardino National Forest. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for San Bernardino County. A smaller fire in Clearlake City forced 4,000 people to evacuate and burned structures.
600 firefighters were battling the blaze with helicopters and other aircraft. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Downtown Los Angeles hit a record high of 112 degrees Fahrenheit, contributing to the extreme fire conditions. Despite the intense heat and challenging terrain, no homes or structures were destroyed at the time. Classes for 20,000 students in the Redlands Unified School District were canceled.
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