Governor of Califonia Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared the fire "totally out of control". He urged the population to follow evacuation orders as flames threaten 10 homes near Los Angeles.
Two firefighters died accidentally on Sunday while fighting a raging fire in the mountains around Los Angeles threatening 10 homes.
These are the first two dead in the fire that broke out last Wednesday. The vehicle they were in tipped into a ravine during an intervention on Sunday afternoon in the Angeles National Forest.
Two firefighters died accidentally on Sunday while fighting a raging fire in the mountains around Los Angeles threatening 10.000 homes. These are the first two dead in the fire that broke out last Wednesday.
Reuters / Mario Anzuoni
Two firefighters died accidentally on Sunday while fighting a raging fire in the mountains around Los Angeles threatening 10 homes. These are the first two dead in the fire that broke out last Wednesday.
They belonged to the Los Angeles brigade.
Visiting the fire command post at Lakeview Terrace, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger urged residents to comply with evacuation orders as the flames have now covered more than 17 hectares.
"These fires are still totally out of control," he told reporters. "It is a gigantic and very dangerous fire. The flames are approaching homes and buildings."
The fire, sustained by high temperatures, spreads over a 25 km front, above a highly populated area, in a mountain area between La Crescenta and Pasadena.
About twenty homes were destroyed, mainly huts that were not permanently inhabited.
More than 2 firefighters were mobilized, some of whom arrived as reinforcements from Wyoming or Montana.
Authorities have ordered the evacuation of some 10.000 threatened households. Five hundred commercial buildings are also in danger, as is Mount Wilson, which houses radio and television transmitters and telecommunications relays.
“This location is the hub of most telecommunications in the Los Angeles area,” said Fire Commander Mike Dietrich. "He is not out of danger as we speak."
The fire started on Wednesday over the La Canada Flintridge residential area. It is still only five percent contained.
Schwarzenegger had declared a state of emergency for the counties of Los Angeles and Monterey Friday because of other fires. In total, the various fires ravaged 22 hectares, according to the latest assessment communicated by the emergency services.
Heavy smoke covered the sky over the mountains on Sunday and authorities issued a health alert for the Los Angeles basin.
Four other firefighters were injured and three civilians burned.
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