Fire crews in Southern California battled nine wildfires ravaging mainly San Diego County for a third day on Thursday after flames whipped by dry winds and intense heat scorched more than 9,000 acres and forced 21,000 people from their homes.
At least 400 acres have burned in the city of Carlsbad since Wednesday, although the blaze there is about 60 percent contained, fire officials said early Thursday.
Carlsbad Fire Chief Michael Davis said firefighters are still trying to eradicate hot spots, and were being helped by calmer winds. Temperatures, however, are expected to soar into the triple digits in some places.
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“I would put all of that fire in a precarious situation,” said Davis, warning drivers to stay off the roads even though evacuation orders in some areas of Carlsbad have been lifted.
Some 10,000 people left the seaside San Diego suburb of about 105,000 as the brush fire raced up canyons and menaced homes. So far, it has caused an estimated $22.5 million in damages after burning at least four homes and an apartment complex, officials said.
Authorities said Thursday that the fires are being considered suspicious until a cause is established.
“Certainly if it’s of a criminal nature, we will persevere with prosecution of the appropriate parties,” Carlsbad Police Chief Gary Morrison told reporters.
The various fires cover an area roughly 14 square miles.
Elsewhere in the county, a wildfire in San Marcos grew from 450 acres to 700 acres overnight after the local Cal State university was evacuated. A blaze in the northeast section of Camp Pendleton has burned more than 6,000 acres and was about 20 percent contained early ThursdayOfficials are still tallying the damage to homes, while schools across San Diego County remain closed for a second day.
“I’ve never seen anything like this in 20 years,” said Bill Horn, the county supervisor.
Legoland California, a nearby amusement park, said on its Facebook page Wednesday that it was closed because of power outages related to the fire.
Some homeowners tried to protect their property by hosing it down, but it was a losing battle.
“I tried to make it as good as possible, but naturally who cares right now, you know? House is gone,” Greg Saska told NBC News. “Our home is right where the fires started. We didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for anything. No warning.”Closer to Los Angeles, a fire burning in Anaheim closed both directions of the 91 Freeway on Wednesday afternoon. Another blaze in Long Beach threatened a hotel used in Hollywood productions, according to NBC Los Angeles.
Embers from a collection of brush fires along the Pacific Coast Highway blew a few blocks away to the SeaPort Marina Hotel, Long Beach fire spokesman Jim Nash told the station.
It has been used in television shows including “Dexter,” “Modern Family” and “CSI: Miami” and the movie “Almost Famous.”
The dry, hot Santa Ana winds are fueling the fires, but are not typical for this time of year.
Temperatures are expected to reach record highs in Southern California on Thursday. Highs were expected to be in the low 90s to low 100s, with wind gusts up to 40 mph in some areas.
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