East Of Los Angeles, A Massive Blaze Pushes Firefighters To Their Limit
LOS ANGELES (CBSNewYork) -- A lot of southern California families are going to come home to nothing -- that's the grim news from fire officials battling California's newest wildfire east of Los Angeles.
As CBS2's Chris Martinez reported, the fire is so fierce it's pushing firefighters to their limit.
The massive 'blue cut' wildfire has exploded to 30,000 acres about 60 miles east of Los Angeles.
The wildfire raced up and down ridges overnight burning entire neighborhoods to the ground.
"It's just devastating, and it looks like it's just all around us, and I live that way and they won't let me go home," one resident said.
Strong winds and dry brush fueled flames shooting thick black smoke 80 feet into the air.
Firefighters were overcome by flames and a couple were injured.
More than a thousand fire crews were on the ground while helicopters and planes attacked the monster blaze from the air.
"We're really struggling to keep up with it," Glenn Barley, said.
Evacuation orders have been issued for more than 80,000 people, but some residents were refusing to leave the mountain town of Wrightwood -- which is surrounded by smoke.
"We would hate for the fire to overrun your neighborhood and you be stuck inside and not have a way out," San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said.
Several other large fires were burning across the state. The governor has declared a state of emergency.