The California wildfire engulfed over 11,000 acres in flames and blazed over 15 structures, as authorities say that the fire is only 10% contained.
Thousands of firemen, 13 helicopters and 6 air tankers are currently on the scene and is pushing eastward through the San Jacinto Mountains, which is about 90 miles east of Los Angeles, Cal Fire Riverside Chief John R. Hawkins said. This wildfire in California started at about 2PM Wednesday and spread through 300 acres within just an hour. The flames were estimated early Thursday at about 15 ½ miles and have grown to about 6 more miles overnight, which makes it highly difficult for firemen.
"Unfortunately the size of this fire continues to take away any progress that we're making," California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Daniel Berlant said. Julie Hutchinson of the Forestry and Fire Protection Department shares that there's a need for everyone to realized just how quickly this California wildfire is spreading. "Within the first three hours, we were over 2,500 acres. The difficulty was in getting evacuations because that's always our key, life first and property next."
A man near the burning origin was burnt from head to foot and was airlifted to the nearest hospital. Hawkins share that he is "very, very tragically was very badly burned." Five others were injured, including two firemen who suffered heat exhaustion. There are about 15 structures destroyed so far although it's yet to be determined how many of these burnt down units were homes.
There is still no clear reason as to how this California wildfire started. During a news conference yesterday, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., puts the blame on climate change, "Open your eyes, breathe the air and see what's going on," she said.
In his 50 years of being a fireman, Hawkins relates that the wildfire is one of the "most rapidly spreading, dangerous fires that I've seen."
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