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Wildfires out of control across West with extreme heat and gusty winds
Meteorologist Steve Bender has the latest on California's Post Fire that already burned at least one structure and the large wildfire in Ruidoso, New Mexico that prompted an evacuation of an entire town.
GORMAN, Calif. – Firefighters are slowly gaining more control of a wind-driven wildfire burning north of Los Angeles after the Post Fire exploded in size to more than 15,000 acres and continues to burn on Tuesday.
The Post Fire started Saturday at 1:47 p.m. in Gorman, California, on Gorman Road and continues to burn in Los Angeles and Ventura counties on the west side of Interstate 5. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
More than 1,000 team members from fire departments in Los Angeles and Ventura counties and the U.S. Forest Service with the Los Padres National Forest are battling the fire, which has destroyed at least two structures so far and threatens about 60 additional structures.
(FOX Weather)
After growing to 4,400 acres on Saturday night with no containment, the fire exploded overnight Saturday and into Sunday, increasing to more than 15,610 acres by Monday, according to California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire is mostly burning in Los Angeles County, with a few hundred acres burning in Ventura County.
On Tuesday, L.A. County Fire Department officials said crews gained 24% containment of the fire. Cal Fire officials said fire weather conditions are making it difficult to control the fire, and important structures like power lines, dams and oil pipelines are at risk.
One car repair business in Gorman was destroyed by the fire, including dozens of cars.
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Dozens of burned up cars that were destroyed by the Post Fire at an auto repair business are seen on June 17, 2024 in Gorman, California. The Post Fire is an early season wildfire, the largest fire in the state so far this year, and is burning days before the start of summer. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) ()
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Fire crews keep an eye on flames from a burn out operation near Hungry Valley Road as the Post Fire continues to grow north of Pyramid Lake just west of Interstate 5. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) ()
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A US Forest Service firefighter sets a controlled burn as the Post Fire burns through Castaic, California, June 16, 2024. The fire has grown to 12,265 acres, and continues to move southeast of Pyramid Lake, according to the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service at Angeles National Forest. (Photo by David SWANSON / AFP) (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images) ()
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Air support drops water as the Post Fire burns through Castaic, California, June 16, 2024. (Photo by David SWANSON / AFP) (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images) ()
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A water dropping helicopter fills it's tank as efforts to fight the Post Fire continue. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) ()
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The Post Fire burns through the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area in Lebec, California, on June 15, 2024. (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images) ()
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Firefighters monitor the Post Fire near Gorman, California, US, on Sunday, June 16, 2024. Authorities evacuated at least 1,200 people Saturday as a wildfire in Los Angeles County spread over thousands of acres near a major highway and threatened nearby structures, officials said. Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Getty)
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The Post Fire burns through the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area in Lebec, California, on June 15, 2024. (Photo by DAVID SWANSON / AFP) (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images) ()
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Flames from the Post Fire burning in Gorman, California as seen from Orwin Road. (@NINEEEv / X)
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Smoke from the Post Fire seen from Ralph’s Road overpass in Gorman, California. The fire outside of Los Angeles, California has burned more than 11,000 acres. (CaLandBird/X)
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Firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and other firemen respond to the Post Fire as it burns through the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area in Lebec, California, on June 16, 2024. (Photo by DAVID SWANSON / AFP) (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images) ()
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The Post Fire burns through the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area in Lebec, California, on June 15, 2024. The fire has grown to 4,400 acres, with evacuation orders in place for Gorman, Pyramid Lake and Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area, according to the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service at Los Padres National Forest. (Photo by DAVID SWANSON / AFP) (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images) ()
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Firefighters battle the Post Fire near Gorman, California, US, on Sunday, June 16, 2024. Authorities evacuated at least 1,200 people Saturday as a wildfire in Los Angeles County spread over thousands of acres near a major highway and threatened nearby structures, officials said. Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images ()
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On Orwin road fire crews battle a hot spot at the Gorman Brush Fire in northern Los Angeles County on Sunday, June 16, 2024 in Gorman, CA. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) ()
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On Orwin road fire crews battle a hot spot at the Gorman Brush Fire in northern Los Angeles County on Sunday, June 16, 2024 in Gorman, CA. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) ()
Over the weekend, officials issued evacuation orders west of Interstate 5 between Pyramid Lake and Gorman, which includes Hungry Valley Park. California State Park Service officials evacuated about 1,200 people from the park, which is popular for all-terrain vehicles, dune buggies and dirt bikes.
Pyramid Lake is also closed because of the fire. Aerial fire teams are using water from the lake to help suppress the fire.
On Orwin road fire crews battle a hot spot at the Gorman Brush Fire in northern Los Angeles County on Sunday, June 16, 2024 in Gorman, CA. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
CALIFORNIA VINEYARDS ON ALERT AFTER HITCHHIKING PEST SPOTTED IN STATE FOR FIRST TIME
Wildfires create unhealthy air
Heavy smoke could create difficult driving conditions on Interstate 5 south of Gorman and north of Santa Clarita, Cal Fire warned.
POLLUTION FROM CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES KILLED 52,000 IN A DECADE, STUDY SAYS
(FOX Weather)
People in Castaic, Piru, Santa Clarita, Gorman, the Interstate 5 corridor, western San Gabriel Mountains and the Highway 14 corridor are advised to limit their time outdoors.
While the Post Fire is the state's largest, multiple other large wildfires burning across California, including the 10,000-acre Sites Fire in Colusa County, are sending smoke throughout the Southwest.
