CRESTLINE, Calif. (AP) – Smoke plumes roiling from flaming ridges of the San Bernardino Mountains threatened thousands of homes and blew all the way across the Mojave Desert to Las Vegas as California’s latest big wildfire chewed through timber and brush Monday.
Hundreds of firefighters, aided by 16 aircraft, battled flames that spread across nearly 10 square miles on the northern side of the rugged mountain range east of Los Angeles.
Dozens of homes were ordered evacuated, and authorities recommended voluntary evacuations for more than 5,000.
Helicopters sucked loads of water from nearby Silverwood Lake to douse flames leaping across slopes. Air tankers swooped low to paint the dry vegetation with pink fire retardant.
The fire, which erupted for an unknown reason Sunday, was just 6 percent contained.