Fast-moving California wildfire destroys homes and burns at least 100 acres

Several homes burned on Monday as a fast-moving wildfire torched a California hillside community, triggering evacuations while hundreds of firefighters tried to control the blaze.

The Edgehill fire started at about 3pm in the Shandin Hills area of San Bernardino and spread rapidly through the neighborhood, burning homes and forcing evacuations, according to the San Bernardino county fire department.

Early reports said the fire grew to at least 100 acres (40 hectares). By about 6pm, county officials said that the forward progress of the fire had been stopped, and that the blaze was holding at 54 acres (22 hectares) with 25% contained.

Triple-digit temperatures in the area worsened the situation. Eric Sherwin, a fire department spokesperson, told news station KTLA that more than 200 firefighters were assigned to the blaze.

“Little Mountain is a community that is not unaccustomed to fire,” Sherwin said. “The residents here are aware of fire and the threat that exists in this community. As engines were pulling up, people were already evacuating out of this area.”

News outlets showed video of homes burned to the foundation as the fire spread.

Arson investigators were still trying to determine on Monday evening how the fire started. One person was detained for a few hours but had been released, San Bernardino police said.

The fire came as temperatures in the region soared to 100F (38C) on Monday. The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for the area until 11pm on Tuesday, with temperatures expected to hit 110F (43C).

In northern California, the Park fire, which started on 24 July and has destroyed hundreds of homes in Tehama and Butte counties, has burned more than 400,000 acres as of Monday evening.

Fire crews are preparing for higher temperatures and decreased humidity this week as they continue to battle the north-east portion of the blaze.