Firefighters on Thursday battled raging wildfires across southern California that have forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, including residents on the outskirts of Los Angeles, America's second-largest city. Winds with hurricane-force gusts of up to 80 miles per hour (130 kilometers per hour) fueled the blazes, creating apocalyptic scenes of hillsides engulfed in billowing smoke and towering plumes of flame.
Despite the intensity of the fires, only one fatality has been reported so far. Tim Lohman of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office said an unidentified body had been found overnight. A total of six major fires are now burning, and flames are heading south toward Santa Barbara and San Diego. Officials said the strong winds fanning the fires are forecast to last through Saturday, making for extremely dangerous conditions.
More than 4,000 firefighters and dozens of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters have been deployed to combat the fires in Los Angeles County and Ventura County, fire officials said. About 90 minutes south of Los Angeles, two fires were moving swiftly toward the town of Murrieta, scarring more than 900 hectares (2200 acres) of land and threatening hundreds of homes.
"We hear propane tanks blow up. It means that a house is burning. It's very sad," said one resident standing near the fence of a ranch in the rural area, where many horses have had to be evacuated. The Pentagon announced that the California National Guard is deploying 65 troops to assist in the firefighting efforts, which are being hampered by the seasonal Santa Ana winds.
"There will be no ability to fight fire in these kinds of winds," Cal Fire chief Ken Pimlott said. California Fire Department (Cal Fire) officials warned residents to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. "Extremely dry conditions and Santa Ana Winds will continue to elevate fire danger," Cal Fire said in a tweet. "Prepare now to ensure if evacuated you and your family are ready to GO!"
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