California Line fire rages out of control across 21k acres as National Guard comes to aid in evacuations

Julia Musto

Southern California’s Line Fire has consumed more than 21,000 acres on Monday, forcing new evacuations and the deployment of the National Guard.

The explosive blaze has forced thousands from their homes, with new orders in the communities of Angeles Oaks, Seven Oaks and Running Springs. Several school districts canceled Monday classes as a result of the blaze - which is less than 5 percent contained.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said Monday that Governor Gavin Newsom had activated the state’s National Guard to assist with security in evacuated communities. On Sunday, Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for San Bernardino County.

Firefighters watch as the Line Fire burns in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains on Sunday. The fire has forced evacuation orders for thousands of Southern California residents. Several school districts canceled school on Monday. ((Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images))
Firefighters watch as the Line Fire burns in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains on Sunday. The fire has forced evacuation orders for thousands of Southern California residents. Several school districts canceled school on Monday. ((Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images))

“This will allow for the county and municipal law enforcement agencies to be used for active mandatory evacuations if that becomes necessary,” the department said in a statement.

The wildfire was not showing any signs of stopping by mid-Monday afternoon, although firefighters had made some progress by the early morning. The fire is 3 percent contained.

People watch the smoke column of the Line Fire as it burns near Mentone, California, on Sunday. The fire is just 3 percent contained, but it continued to grow from Sunday to Monday, jumping past 21,000 acres. ((Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images))
People watch the smoke column of the Line Fire as it burns near Mentone, California, on Sunday. The fire is just 3 percent contained, but it continued to grow from Sunday to Monday, jumping past 21,000 acres. ((Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images))

While extremely hot and dry weather has baked much of the region in the last week, bringing record temperatures in the triple digits, officials warned residents of thunderstorms in the area.

“The latest challenge has been those thunderstorms, and we’re just keeping up with them,” Cal Fire’s Brent Pascua said, according to the local affiliate ABC 7 Los Angeles. “We’re making sure that we have our firefighters in all different directions, so if it switches directions like it did yesterday, we’re there to meet it.”

Firefighters work on the Line Fire on Sunday amid extreme weather and severe temperatures. Thunderstorms are expected to pose a challenge to firefighting efforts. ((Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images))
Firefighters work on the Line Fire on Sunday amid extreme weather and severe temperatures. Thunderstorms are expected to pose a challenge to firefighting efforts. ((Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images))

Inclement weather is expected through the weekend, further challenging firefighting efforts. The Line Fire burned so hot last weekend that it created its own pyrocumulus clouds, which can create more winds and lightning strikes.

The heat has also knocked out the power for nearly 17,000 customers in the state, according to tracker PowerOutage.US.

With reporting from The Associated Press

The Independent will be revealing its Climate100 List in September and hosting an event in New York, which can be attended online.

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