A wildfire dubbed as the "Route Fire" is ravaging northern Los Angeles County in Southern California as of Thursday, September 1, threatening a number of structures and has caused an ongoing disruption in the area. The wildland fire sparked near Castaic Lake, west of Interstate 5 (I-5), around noon on Wednesday, August 31. The fire grew overnight and has spread to more than 5,200 acres.
While there were no immediate reports of fatalities, the fire has injured multiple firefighters combating its spread. Hundreds of structures are also under threat from raging flames, prompting California officials to issue an evacuation order for residents in nearby areas as the wildfire continues to grow. Temporary shelters have been set up to accommodate the displaced individuals.
Local authorities have yet to identify the specific cause of the blaze. Yet, weather reports indicate the Route Fire erupted amid a massive heat wave blanketing California and the Western United States. The National Weather Service (NWS) on Wednesday issued excessive heat warnings for 35 million people, including those residing in the Southwest, Nevada, and Arizona.
The major wildfire coincides with the issuance of a grid emergency across California on Wednesday. California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency in response to the heat dome, which is reportedly expected to last for at least a week. With this, authorities are asking Californians to conserve energy consumption due to the threat of blackouts and increased electricity demand.
Route Fire
Under only 12% containment, the Route Fire grew rapidly and led to the closure of a portion of I-5, shutting down both directions.
This is because temperatures have already spiked as of Thursday morning and are anticipated to reach triple digits across the area.
Alexis Clouser from the NWS office in San Francisco told CNN that this heat wave will be the longest and most intense heat streak this year.
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Damage and Disruption
Eight firefighters became casualties of heat-related injuries and six were sent to hospital. The wounded were part of a contingent of more than 350 firefighters from Los Angeles County and the U.S. Forest Service. The ground personnel were assisted by 15 aircraft.
Residents of between 100 and 200 homes were evacuated, according to Lieutenant Brandon Barclay, the sheriff of Los Angeles County, as cited by NBC News.
In particular, the evacuation orders were issued for Paradise Ranch Mobile Estate, as well as in areas north of Northlake Elementary school, west of Castaic Lagoon, east of the Golden Station Freeway, north of Lake Hughes Road, and south of Templin Highway.
Excessive Heat Warnings
The mentioned heat alerts affecting millions of individuals will likely continue for a prolonged period of time.
This is because the NWS stated the record-breaking heat wave in Southern California is likely to continue until next week.
Additional wildfires are also possible to erupt in the short-term period. Latest reports suggest another blaze called the "Border 32 Fire" emerged in another part of Southern California, leading to the closure of the Tecate border crossing.
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