A fire in Los Angeles County made hundreds of people leave a state park. It burned almost 15,000 acres, said officials on Sunday. The fire, called the Post Fire, started just a day ago and is only 2% under control. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire, reported that 400 firefighters, 70 fire trucks, and two bulldozers are fighting the fire. Cal Fire added that many air tankers from all over the state are dropping water and chemicals to stop the fire when they can.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles warned that strong winds, possibly reaching 60 to 70 mph, were expected on Sunday night. These winds could make the fire worse. A red flag warning was issued for the I-5 area in Los Angeles County and the Ventura County mountains until Monday afternoon at 5:00 p.m.
The wildfire started on Saturday afternoon in Gorman, a community in northwestern Los Angeles County. Cal Fire is still investigating what caused the fire.
California State Park Services evacuated 1,200 people from Hungry Valley Park, according to Cal Fire. By Saturday evening, the fire had damaged two businesses, as reported by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Evacuation orders are in place for areas west of Interstate 5 between Pyramid Lake and Gorman. Evacuation warnings are also in effect for areas south of Pyramid Lake between Old Ridge Route and the Los Angeles County border.
Fire crews are working hard to control the fire. The fire department said aircraft are helping to slow down the fire’s movement, but they are facing challenges due to limited visibility.
Pyramid Lake is shut down because of the fire danger, according to the fire department.
In the affected area, temperatures will be a bit higher and humidity lower for the rest of the weekend, as noted by the fire department. Winds are also picking up, with gusts up to 30 mph expected tonight. At higher elevations, winds could reach over 50 mph.