The worsening wildfires that have continued to spread in Southern California have forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.
Government officials issued a Red Flag Warning for most areas in Southern California through Tuesday night. Weather experts said the Santa Ana winds, low humidity and dry conditions could lead to further escalation of the situation in the coming days.
The National Weather Service said the region is now seeing the worst wildfire conditions since last year. Late last year, fires such as The Tick, Getty, Maria, Easy and Saddleridge blazes destroyed dozens of homes and displaced thousands of people in the area.
Residents living in Orange County, just 42 miles south of Los Angeles, were forced overnight to leave their homes as firefighters struggled to keep the fire under control.
The Silverado Fire and the Blue Ridge Fire have grown after being fueled by the Santa Ana winds. As of Monday evening, the Silverado Fire has reportedly burned more than 7,200 acres of land, while the Blue Ride Fire has scorched 1,120 acres of land. Officials have stated that both fires remained to be uncontained.
More than 90,000 residents in the Orchard Hills neighborhood in Orange County were ordered to safety. The Orange County Fire Authority said that it had about 500 personnel battling the Silverado Fire and 200 fighting the Blue Ridge Fire. Two of its crew, aged 31 and 26, have reportedly been admitted to hospital after suffering second- and third-degree burns.
Several schools and other establishments were also closed along the path of the Silverado Fire, which is moving east to west from the 241 Freeway. Roads along its path, including the Santiago Canyon Road and the 133 Freeway were closed.
Winds with gusts reaching up to 70 miles per hour have worsened the situation, making it harder for firefighters to control and contain the blaze. Firefighters have begun to seek help from other agencies to control the fires. Officials said that it was difficult for them to dispatch air support due to the high winds.
