Out of control inferno east of LA: 11,000 evacuated as schools close in South California

Schools were closed, and residents were ordered to evacuate as an uncontrolled wildfire in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains rapidly expanded, blanketing the sky with smoke and threatening Southern California communities on Monday.

More than 11,000 people were told to leave as the Line fire swelled, endangering over 36,000 homes, businesses, and other structures. The blaze, which started Thursday, had quadrupled in size by the weekend, burning more than 20,500 acres in San Bernardino County, according to Cal Fire (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection).

The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools ordered the closure of several school and college districts, including Bear Valley, Redlands, Rim of the World, Yucaipa-Calimesa, and San Bernardino Community College, with further closures possible depending on fire conditions. As of Monday morning, the fire was only 3% contained. One school, Bonnie Oehl Elementary in San Bernardino, was shut down as it lay within the evacuation zone.

Three firefighters have been injured in the ongoing battle, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Covering 20,000 square miles, San Bernardino County is the largest in California by area and is home to more than two million people.

In Highland, California—about 70 miles east of Los Angeles and one of the hardest-hit communities—ash rained down on Sunday, and smoke concealed the nearby mountains. On Monday, poor air quality and evacuation warnings in East Highlands and other parts of the city led to additional school closures, as announced by the Redlands Unified School District.

Forecasters warned that above-average temperatures, wind gusts, and low humidity were combining to create dangerous fire conditions. A heatwave gripping Southern California is expected to persist through Monday, with temperatures forecast to reach the upper 90s and even triple digits. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning over the weekend, signaling elevated to critical fire risk across the region, stretching from the Pacific coast to the mountains northwest of Los Angeles.

In response to the growing emergency, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for San Bernardino County on Saturday, providing access to unemployment benefits and waiving fees for vital records and licenses.