The Blue Cut fire broke out Tuesday around 10:30 a.m. (17:30 GMT), some 60 miles east of Los Angeles. By Wednesday evening it had charred almost 26,000 acres, according to a state firefighting agency spokesperson.
The #BlueCutFire not lying down. @FOXLA @StringerLA pic.twitter.com/reIulBhjds
— christina gonzalez (@cgfox11) August 18, 2016
California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for San Bernardino County, and over 82,000 people were forced to leave their homes in the path of the fire, for shelters set up by The Red Cross.
#BlueCutFire burning over 25,600 acres and 4% contained pic.twitter.com/DgKGSs9INU
— Watchara Phomicinda (@watcharaphotog) August 18, 2016
The #BlueCutFire approaches Wrightwood Wednesday pic.twitter.com/aOI2Ub67N0
— Will Lester (@WillLesterPhoto) August 18, 2016
San Bernardino County Fire Department battalion chief Michael Wakoski said that it had been four decades since he last saw a fire so intense.
"It hit hard, it hit fast, it hit with intensity that we haven't seen before," San Bernardino County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig said. "There will be a lot of families that will come home to nothing."
Over 1,500 firefighters and other emergency workers are fighting to contain the blaze. To assist efforts, the California Air National Guard on Wednesday activated two C-130J Hercules air tankers.
.@CALFIREBDU Batt Chief rescues dog from burning bldg. Dog leapt into his arms. https://t.co/EnjjNOdJHc #BlueCutFire pic.twitter.com/MxGurhFxQM
— KTLA (@KTLA) August 18, 2016
Fire tornado caught by a firefighter. Praying for all those families who lost everything due to #BlueCutFire pic.twitter.com/5rqBDSS9Ig
— Melissa Heredia (@carriedawayxo) August 17, 2016
One of the buildings ruined by the fire is the legendary Summit Inn diner on world-famous Route 66, in which celebrities, including Elvis Presley and Clint Eastwood, were known to visit.
California has been suffering from an extreme five-year drought, with temperatures reaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) in parts of the state. Strong seasonal gusts, known as Santa Ana winds, help wildfires expand quickly.
Keep the high desert in your prayers 🙏 #BlueCutFire pic.twitter.com/AX7371RnxL
— Savannah (@Tuurkeyy) August 17, 2016
"It all aligned. The wind, the fuel and the topography," said Capt. Howard Deets. "When that happens there's nothing you can do about it. You could throw the world's firefighting resources at it and it's just going to keep going."
No deaths have been reported in the wildfire. Six county firefighters were slightly injured as they were protecting homes and helping evacuate residents in Swarthout Canyon, but resumed battling the fire after treatment.
