Strong winds fan flames around Los Angeles

Hard-pressed firefighters in California are facing a fresh crisis as strong winds triggered more wildfires in the south of the state.

A blaze sprang up in California’s Simi Valley early on Wednesday and tripled in size in two hours.

The flames were driven by gusts of wind approaching hurricane-level speeds, over 119km/h.

Later in the day, more than a dozen other wildfires sprang up around the city’s suburbs.

Easy Fire in Simi Valley
 A plane drops fire retardant as firefighters contain the Easy Fire spreading near Simi Valley, North of Los Angeles, California, USA, 30 October 2019. EPA-EFE/ETIENNE LAURENT

Fires across California over the past week have led to mass evacuations and power cuts. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state-wide emergency.

At one point on Wednesday the fire in the Simi Valley – named the Easy Fire – threatened to engulf the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Via BBC

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