Dangerous wildfires have swept across a highway in California - setting at least 20 vehicles and five homes alight in its path.
The
fast-moving blaze began north of State Route 138 in the Baldy Mesa area
on Friday, forcing both lanes of Freeway 15 - the main road between
Southern California and Las Vegas - to shut down.
Dramatic
aerial pictures show lorries and cars in flames, forcing motorists to
abandon their cars and rush to safety, but reports suggest only two
people suffered minor injuries.
Dozens
of vehicles were vacated and hundreds of others turned onto side roads
to get away from the flames as water-dropping helicopters flew
overhead.
More than 20 fire engines were deployed, some of which were parked in front of houses to protect them.
Dangerous wildfires have swept across a highway in California - setting 10 vehicles alight in its path
The fast-moving blaze began north of
State Route 138 in the Baldy Mesa area on Friday, forcing both lanes of
Freeway 15 to shut down
A group of passenger cars are seen
ablaze in the middle of the road, the area as evacuated after the fire
started to spread quickly
Some drivers left their cars with their keys, meaning responders had to two vehicles that were sitting in the path of the fire.
The fire which blew across the area in temperatures reaching the high 90s also hit houses, forcing residents to flee.
By
Friday evening, the fire had spread to 3,500 acres, prompting
helicopters and plans to come in and drop water and fire retardant.
Josh Wilkins with the fire department told KTLA:
'Currently we have not only a multi-casaulty incident, but a large
wildfire threatening structures.' However it was later revealed that
there were only two minor injuries.
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