News / Society

Forest fire in Southern California prompts evacuations

Monday, 08 August 2016 4:46 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 08 August 2016 5:13 AM ]

Heavy smoke looms up over Lake Gregory and mountaintop homes in Crestline, Calif., as a wildfire threatens the San Bernardino Mountains village about 55 miles east of Los Angeles Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016. (AP photo)

A fast-moving forest fire in the US state of California has forced scores of people to evacuate their homes.

The San Bernardino National Forest department said residents in the Summit Valley in Southern California were asked to leave their homes on Sunday afternoon.

Lyn Sieliet, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino National Forest, said the area is sparsely populated.

She added that an evacuation center was established in the town of Hesperia.

According to officials, the fire started on Sunday in the east of Los Angeles and quickly grew to more than a square mile.

More than 350 firefighters are battling the blazes and a highway has been closed. Several helicopters and air tankers are also deployed to deal with the crisis.