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Calif. Wildfire Doubles Size to 85K Acres

10K evacuated as soot covers parts of Los Angeles

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 31, 2009 1:44 PM CDT
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(Newser) – A southern California wildfire almost doubled in size overnight, reaching a whopping 85,760 acres, NBC Los Angeles reports, calling the speed of the fire’s spread “staggering.” A blanket of soot covers parts of the city as locals are warned to stay indoors, and heavy winds are expected later today, potentially worsening the situation. “We are making progress, but it is very slow and very dangerous,” says an official.

A 25,000-foot “mushroom cloud” of smoke over northern LA was visible for miles. More than 10,000 people have been evacuated, with at least 21 homes now destroyed. Meanwhile, flames are nearing the site of the city’s communication towers, posing a risk to cell-phone, radio, and TV signals and threatening fire and police department communication. The towers “are extremely crucial to the infrastructure and public safety protection,” the official says.

Firefighters battle a wildfire in Acton, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009.
Firefighters battle a wildfire in Acton, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Kevin Munson, right, Brittany Fryer, second from right, Francesca Scott, left, and an unidentified firefighter watch as the Station fire burns in the hills above Acton, Calif., Aug. 30, 2009.
Kevin Munson, right, Brittany Fryer, second from right, Francesca Scott, left, and an unidentified firefighter watch as the Station fire burns in the hills above Acton, Calif., Aug. 30, 2009.   (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
A firefighter watches a backfire burn as the battle with a wildfire continues in Acton, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009.
A firefighter watches a backfire burn as the battle with a wildfire continues in Acton, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Golfers finish off the back 9, as smoke billows from the Station Fire in the hills behind the Angeles National Golf Coarse in Sunland, Calif., in Los Angeles County Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009.
Golfers finish off the back 9, as smoke billows from the Station Fire in the hills behind the Angeles National Golf Coarse in Sunland, Calif., in Los Angeles County Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009.   (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
guanlob
Aug 31, 2009 8:51 AM CDT
"We are making progress" -wtf, the fire just doubled in size!

 
Los Angeles • Southern California • evacuation • wildfires • California wildfires • disaster • soot • NBC Local

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