August 17, 2016

A Small Wildfire In California Just Turned Into a Raging Inferno

More than 82,000 people have been ordered to evacuate.

Will Lester/Press Enterprise via ZUMA Wire

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


In just one day, a wildfire sparked north of San Bernadino, California, has burned through more than 30,000 acres and forced the evacuation of more than 82,000 people.

The BlueCut Fire started at about 10:30 a.m. Pacific on Tuesday, and by the end of the day there were 700 firefighters with 102 engines on the scene.

The fire was, as of 10 p.m. Tuesday, zero percent contained.

Officials, estimating that more than 34,500 people are in danger, are urging residents to evacuate the area. California Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency.

Six firefighters became trapped within the fire Tuesday, according to the San Bernadino County Fire Department. Two of them received minor injuries and were taken to the hospital.

This post has been updated with the latest numbers. 

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate