‘Critical’ Evacuation Urged as Giant Wildfire Menaces 80,000

More than 80,000 people living near San Bernardino must flee their homes as soon as possible to escape a fast-moving gigantic wild fire with flames up to 40 feet high, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Blue Cut Fire in the Cajon Pass of san Bernardino County has already devastated 32,000 acres and is being fanned by high winds of up to 40 miles per hour (65 km per hour), and it now menaces an evacuation zone in which more than 80,000 people live, Berlant noted.

"[See] how fast this fire is moving," Cal Fire Information Officer Daniel Berlant told a podcast carried on Facebook. "It is critical that you immediately evacuate from this fire… Look at the flame lengths — 20 feet, 30 feet, 40 feet in length. Look at the size of this fire and the scope of it."

He also confirmed earlier reports that only four percent of the fire had been contained.

In all, 10,000 firefighters are currently combatting nine wild fires all over California, Berlant added.

California has been suffering from a record drought and Berlant said the Blue Cut fire was raging through exceptionally dry areas.