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Newsom declares state of emergency as wildfires burn across 4 counties in Southern California
By Vivian Chow,
4 hours ago
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Wednesday night as three major wildfires continue burning across multiple counties in Southern California.
The fires are actively burning with little to zero containment as thousands of firefighters from across the state have responded to help battle the destructive blazes:
Bridge Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties
Airport Fire, which began in Orange County and spread into Riverside County
State officials have secured federal assistance to support efforts to contain the fast-moving fires which include:
Massive air and ground response
Nearly 6,000 fire personnel on the ground across 162 crews
520 fire engines
141 water tankers
75 dozers
51 helicopters
9 fixed-wing aircraft, including 7 CAL FIRE aircraft and 2 National Guard C-130 aircraft
Additional equipment and support from CAL FIRE, the California National Guard and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
“California is deploying every available resource to combat these devastating fires, and we’ll continue to work in lockstep with federal and local partners in this herculean effort,” Newsom said. “We are deeply grateful to all the heroic firefighters and first responders on the ground working 24/7 to keep Californians safe.”
LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES – 2024/09/11: A Cal Fire bulldozer retreats as there Airport Fire overtakes Ortega highway. The Airport Fire originating from Trabuco Canyon, now makes its way through Lake Elsinore on the Ortega Freeway. The fire is now 19,000 acres and has forced evacuations to Lake Elsinore residents. (Photo by Jon Putman/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
A Smokey the Bear sign in front of the raging Airport Fire. The Airport Fire originating from Trabuco Canyon, now makes its way through Lake Elsinore on the Ortega Freeway. The fire is now 19,000 acres and has forced evacuations to Lake Elsinore residents. (Photo by Jon Putman/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Orange County, California September 10, 2024-Orange County firefighters from engine 126 battle the Airport Fire along Ortega Highway in the Santa Ana Mountains Tuesday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Firefighting aircraft drops fire retardant on the Airport Fire on Sept. 10, 2024. (Jon Chenier)
Governor Gavin Newsom visited Highland and walked through neighborhoods on the edge of the Line Fire on September 11, 2024. (California Governor’s Office)
Governor Gavin Newsom in Highland being briefed on the Line Fire on September 11, 2024. (California Governor’s Office)
Firefighters monitor the advancing Line Fire in Angelus Oaks, Calif., Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
A firefighter battles the Airport Fire, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in El Cariso, an unincorporated community in Riverside County, Calif. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
The Bridge Fire burns near homes in Wrightwood, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Orange County, California September 10, 2024- A house burns from the Airport Fire in El Cariso Village along Ortega Highway Tuesday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Dozens of homes have been destroyed as the Bridge Fire continues burning in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. (KTLA)
Members of the media look upon the quickly growing Line Fire. (Photo by Jon Putman/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Smoke rises as the Bridge fire continues to burn on September 9, 2024 near Glendora, California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Orange County, California September 10, 2024-Orange County firefighters from engine 126 battle the Airport Fire along Ortega Highway in the Santa Ana Mountains Tuesday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES – 2024/09/11: Lake Elsinore residents look upon the growing Air port Fire after receiving evacuation orders to leave. The Airport Fire originating from Trabuco Canyon, now makes its way through Lake Elsinore on the Ortega Freeway. The fire is now 19,000 acres and has forced evacuations to Lake Elsinore residents. (Photo by Jon Putman/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Firetrucks are seen around a building as scorched trees smolder during the Bridge Fire in Wrightwood, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Two firefighters look out over the remains of a home destroyed in the Bridge Fire, in Wrightwood, California on September 11, 2024. Out-of-control wildfires surrounding Los Angeles continued to grow on September 10, forcing families to evacuate and blanketing the sky with choking smoke. Three separate blazes have erupted around the United States’ second-biggest city, fueled by a punishing heat wave and fanned by gusting winds. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
A plane makes a drop on the Airport Fire burning near a home on Sept. 10, 2024. (Derek McCoy)
Dozens of homes have been destroyed as the Bridge Fire continues burning in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. (KNN)
Two firefighters watch as the Bridge Fire burns near homes in Wrightwood, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
GLENDORA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 9: A firefighting helicopter makes a water drop at the Bridge Fire on September 9, 2024 near Glendora, California. Heatwave conditions and steep slopes are fueling the expansion of the fire. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
A Sky5 aerial view of aircraft working to contain the Bridge Fire.
A Sky5 aerial view of the Bridge Fire.
A water dropping helicopter flies into thick smoke to drop water on the approaching Line fire which engulfed a home on Pine Cove Drive Sept. 10, 2024 in Running Springs, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Firefighters watch as the Bridge Fire burns near homes in Wrightwood, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The fires ignited during a week when most Southern California cities saw triple-digit temperatures amid a record-breaking heatwave.
“Right now, in our season, we don’t get a lot of recovery from higher humidity,” said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Andrew Bennett. “In Southern California, the fuel is dry toward the end of the year, so our fire season is really just starting now. “
Authorities have urged residents living near the fire zones to heed all evacuation orders and warnings.
The latest evacuation orders, road closures and updates can be found here.
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