More than 6,000 residents and tourists have been evacuated from a community in the San Jacinto Mountains, about 100 miles east of Los Angeles and only two miles from Palm Springs, as a massive wildfire burns over 35 square miles.
The blaze has destroyed seven homes and cabins, as fire crews carve fire lines around Idyllwild — an artist community and hiking destination — to block flames which have have been shooting up to 100 feet into the air.
Officials estimate that 4,100 homes, hotels, condos and cabins are currently threatened.
The blaze is approximately 15 percent contained, but continuing spikes in daytime temperatures are further hampering efforts to put out the blaze.
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- Sheldon Keafer, spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service.
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