Wildfires threaten regions outside Los Angeles

World Today

In the U.S. a wildfire just outside of Los Angeles has forced tens of thousands to evacuate.

Around 25 homes have burned so far.

The blaze has consumed nearly 2000 hectares.

CGTN’s Ediz Tiyansan has more.

In just a matter of hours, this latest blaze consumed hundreds of hectares in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley.

The fires broke out Thursday evening quickly burning down dozens of homes and forcing thousands to evacuate. By Friday morning, the extent of devastation came to light.

Emergency teams have been fighting the flames through ground and air operations. But it remains far from being contained.

And officials are warning local residents. The Saddleridge fire is one of nine fires currently burning in California. The state is known for its deadly wildfires, particularly during this time of the year.

Last year, California saw one of the worst wildfires in its history. The infamous Camp Fire took 85 lives in the northern city of Paradise and other communities. This year, the state’s largest utility company Pacific Gas & Electric carried out controlled power outages in different parts of the state it said, as a preventive measure.

But the driest month of the year has once again brought multiple fires to the region. At least 20,000 homes have already been evacuated, as the winds continue to fan the fast-moving flames. Many don’t know when they’ll be able to come home or if there’ll be a home to come back to.