Firefighters are tackling a brush fire in southern California that they think originated at a homeless encampment.
Large plumes of smoke billow beside a busy Los Angeles County roadway in footage taken Thursday evening.
Despite its striking appearance, the fire, which encompassed around four acres, posed no danger to any buildings. However, it did cause massive traffic backups on Interstates 605 and 105.
The fire occurs as temperatures in Los Angeles increase, with some locations expected to hit triple digits this weekend.
California is also in the midst of its wildfire season, which, according to meteorologists, has gotten longer over the years as a result of dry weather and higher-than-normal temperatures induced by climate change.
Around 6 p.m. local time, firefighters think the fire started in Norwalk around the San Gabriel River, where the two highways meet.
According to county dispatchers, the fire originated on the side of the freeway near a probable homeless encampment, according to initial reports.
At least six fire engines were sent to the wildfire, which had spread to around four acres by 6.48 p.m. Water was sprayed on the flames by crews.
Because of the fire’s roadside position, firefighters had “difficult” obstacles as they attempted to extinguish it, according to CBS Los Angeles. Officials were virtually confined to the vehicles’ water supply.
At 8 p.m., the situation was still active, but the fire was still burning, according to dispatch. The smoke’s fumes could be detected as far away as Fullerton, La Mirada, and Brea.
At 8:11 p.m., the California Highway Patrol issued an advisory advising people that numerous sections of the highway would be blocked for at least two hours. It is unknown if the roads have subsequently reopened.
The fire on Thursday comes as California battles the 1,000-acre McKinney Fire, the state’s deadliest and worst wildfire of the year.
The fire broke out on July 29 in Northern California’s Klamath National Forest, causing many to flee.
More than 3,000 firefighters were deployed to the incident, which was 80 percent controlled as of Thursday.
According to Cal Fire, the cause of the enormous blaze is still being investigated.
The McKinney Fire killed four people, wounded seven, and destroyed 185 residential and business structures. Because of the fire, a stretch of Highway 96 remains blocked.
According to the Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources, the fire also destroyed tens of thousands of fish over a 20-mile length of the Klamath River.
According to officials, the fish perished because debris flow reduced oxygen levels in the river.
The main fire season in California is from July through October, when the state has a drier environment.
Summer months saw the most flames, most likely owing to excessive heat, although authorities say these fires do less damage overall when acres burnt are considered.
Cal Fire asserts September and October are the most dangerous months for California wildfires, which are fuelled by dry vegetation caused by scorching summers and little rain. These infernos have proved to be the most devastating.
Meanwhile, temperatures in Los Angeles County are rising, which is bad news for the region’s flora.
The National Weather Service, which forecasted triple-digit temperatures this weekend, cautioned that valleys, mountains, and deserts will bear the brunt of the high heat. ‘The Antelope Valley will likely have the hottest temperatures,’ Meteorologist Roobie Munroe told the Times earlier this week. ‘We’re getting into the 103- to 105-degree zone, which might be the pinnacle of the heat.’
The outlook is average for this time of year, and no extreme heat warning has been issued.
Munroe did say that forecasts anticipate monsoon precipitation to arrive shortly, which will help to cool things down and reduce the risk of wildfires.
‘Obviously, we need some rain,’ he said. ‘If we’re talking weeks upon weeks of temperatures considerably above average, it will have a significant influence on the drought.’ It will be critical to observe how we do over the forthcoming rainy season.’