Los Angeles (USA), June 17 (EFE).- The strong winds this Monday fueled several forest fires that started over the weekend in Southern California, including that in the community of Gorman, located northwest of Los Angeles County and where according to authorities only 8% is under control.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), the Gorman fire, the largest in the entire state, has expanded to nearly 16,000 acres (6,474 hectares), a significant increase from the 12,200 acres reported on Sunday.
More than 1,100 firefighters and half a dozen helicopters are fighting the flames.
The fire started Saturday in Gorman and moved to the Pyramid Lake Reservation, where at least 1,200 people had to be evacuated.
This Monday, the National Weather Service warned that winds could quickly spread the fire and predicted that areas such as the Antelope Valley and foothills, Santa Barbara County and the Sacramento Valley were at risk of fires.
According to the Cal Fire website, 1,769 wildfires larger than 10 acres (4 hectares) are currently active in the Golden State, including one of 1,190 acres (481 hectares) in Sonoma and 1,131 acres (457 hectares) in San Bernadino.
Specialists have announced that the premature fire season could be a warning of greater tragedies that could happen during the summer. EFE
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