A structure is engulfed in flames as a wildfire called the Highland Fire burns in Aguanga, California, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. A wildfire fueled by gusty Santa Ana winds tore through the countryside southeast of Los Angeles on Monday, forcing thousands of people from their homes, fire officials said.
Ethan Swope | AP
About 4,000 residents in Southern California have been ordered to evacuate their homes due to a raging fire in the small Riverside County town of Aguanga that continued to spread overnight.
Dry brush ignited Monday afternoon, sparking a fire that initially covered just 40 acres and was classified as a “moderate speed” according to the Riverside County Fire Department. By evening it was reclassified as a ‘critical rate spread’ and had grown to more than 1,200 hectares. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The flare-up, also called the Highland Fire, destroyed three buildings and damaged six others. The fire brigade has not yet been able to identify what type of structures they are.
On Tuesday morning, the fire expanded to 2,200 hectares. More than 300 firefighters have been deployed to fight the out-of-control fire. A care center has opened at a local high school for evacuated residents. An animal shelter has been opened for those who want to surrender animals at risk.
An evacuation warning has been issued for another 500 homes. This is not a mandate, but asks residents to consider evacuating the area. The fire department has released a searchable map to locate evacuated areas. Three roads have also been closed in the region.
Dry winds and low humidity have worsened the spread.
The National Weather Service has issued an air quality warning for surrounding neighborhoods due to windblown dust and smoke from the wildfire.
While California burns, the Highland Fire is pretty standard. Over the past five years, the state has experienced some of the largest wildfires in its history, burning hundreds of thousands and sometimes more than a million hectares at a time.