Saturday, 18 July 2015

Terrified motorists abandon their cars and run for their lives as raging wildfires blow across California highway and torch EVERYTHING in their path

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
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
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
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. 
Dramatic aerial pictures show lorries and cars in flames, with many people thought to have been injured
Dramatic aerial pictures show lorries and cars in flames, with many people thought to have been injured
A spokesman for the fire department has described the scene as a 'multi-casualty incident' 
A spokesman for the fire department has described the scene as a 'multi-casualty incident' 
Two cars and the front of a truck are ablaze in the middle of the sweeping wildfire. Houses are also believed to have been in its path 
Two cars and the front of a truck are ablaze in the middle of the sweeping wildfire. Houses are also believed to have been in its path 
U.S. Forest Service spokesman Uriah Hernandez said no injuries had been confirmed. Some areas were evacuated in the Cajon Pass area along the freeway, about 55 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
The fire led authorities to shut several freeway lanes, causing traffic to back up for miles.
California Highway Patrol spokesman Steve Carapia said 50 to 75 vehicles were left abandoned on the freeway.
Raquel Martinez, 34, was traveling to Las Vegas with her husband for the weekend when they got stuck in northbound traffic on the I-15 for about an hour.
The sky darkened to black. As they drove by, cars were covered in 'pink powder' — or fire retardant. Cars meanwhile were being redirected up narrow twisty emergency lanes from the southbound side headed north.
'I haven't seen a fire that big and so close to us. It really was huge,' Martinez said.

Firefighters are seen putting out the flames from a lorry fire in the middle of the road 
Firefighters are seen putting out the flames from a lorry fire in the middle of the road 
Vehicles were quickly evacuated after the fire started heading towards the stretch of highway 
Vehicles were quickly evacuated after the fire started heading towards the stretch of highway 
Authorities brought in water and fire retardant to drop on the area in a bid to suppress the growing fire 
Authorities brought in water and fire retardant to drop on the area in a bid to suppress the growing fire 
Smoke is seen billowing into the air from one of the sites of the fire. An adjacent road was left open amid the chaos 
Smoke is seen billowing into the air from one of the sites of the fire. An adjacent road was left open amid the chaos 
A motorist travelling along a nearby road managed to catch the plume of smoke rising into the air 
A motorist travelling along a nearby road managed to catch the plume of smoke rising into the air 

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