A fast-spreading wildfire ravaged a residential area of California on Monday afternoon, quickly scorching 54 acres and destroying several homes.
The blaze, now named the Edgehill Fire, broke out in the Little Mountain area of San Bernardino County around 2:40 p.m., according to fire officials.
The blaze started as a 5-acre brush fire but spread quickly as it engulfed residential areas, covering 54 acres by 5:45 p.m., according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department.
Several houses were burnt down to their foundations, and devastating footage of the fires shown from above showed the damage.
Authorities feared the Edgehill Fire would consume residents’ homes and ordered immediate evacuation. Officials set up a Red Cross evacuation center at Cajon High School for evacuated area residents.
“Little Mountain is an area that’s used to fire,” fire department spokesman Eric Sherwin said. He told KTLA 5.
“Residents here are aware of the fire and threat in the area. When fire engines arrived people had already evacuated the area.”
According to the fire department, by 5:45 p.m. the fire was 25 percent contained and had stopped spreading.
San Bernardino Fire Chief Martin Serna said the fire damaged four homes, two of which were completely destroyed. According to the San Bernardino Sun.
Little Mountain residents told KTLA 5 that neighbors sprang into action as soon as they learned of the approaching fire.
“The whole community came together and got buckets and started pouring water,” Chris Herman said.
“We didn’t want it to spread this far.”
Firefighters are expected to continue battling the blaze through the night, with new supplies expected to arrive in the morning, the district added.
San Bernardino Police Department officers assisted firefighters Monday and detained a suspect who was later released.
Arson investigators are continuing to examine the scene to determine where and why the fire started.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
