Wildfires raged across parts of Southern California this week, forcing thousands of people to evacuate, damaging homes and creating multiple areas where firefighters had to try to confront the flames—all at the same time.
In Wrightwood, a small mountain community in San Bernardino County, firefighters responded as fire erupted near homes, the landscape engulfed in fire. Known as the Bridge Fire, it is one of three major wildfires currently burning in Southern California.
Another blaze in Orange County, called the Airport Fire, also quickly spread. Firefighters battled back the flames on the ground and by helicopter, pouring water over the blaze. Elsewhere, a car was enveloped in embers, while others were left abandoned and destroyed. And what was left of a charred tricycle sunk into ashy ground.
The Airport Fire burns over a structure Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in El Cariso, an unincorporated community in Riverside County, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
An Orange County Sheriff’s officer escorts a man on a scooter out of a closed area as the Airport Fire burns, behind, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Trabuco Canyon, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Once green landscapes have been turned to gray: the Line Fire, also in San Bernardino County, scorched the ground, leaving barren black forests in its wake where only leafless, burnt trees remained. Behind them, an orange glow signaled the fire was still singing the nearby earth.
In the mountain community of Running Springs, horses huddled together in a pen as fire and smoke filled the air around them. Around 25 miles (40 kilometers) south, in Mentone, people watched as the fire advanced toward their homes.
So far this year, California has seen nearly three times as much acreage burn than during all of 2023.
A firefighter battles the Airport Fire on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in El Cariso, an unincorporated community in Riverside County, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
A vehicle burns from the Airport Fire Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in El Cariso, an unincorporated community in Riverside County, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Water is dropped on the Airport Fire by helicopter Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in El Cariso, an unincorporated community in Riverside County, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
A scorched landscape is left behind by the Line Fire on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Running Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Firefighters monitor the advancing Line Fire in Angelus Oaks, Calif., Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Horse huddle in a pen as smoke from the Line Fire fills the air Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Running Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
A firefighter walks up a hill as the Bridge Fire burns near homes in Wrightwood, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A firefighter battles the advancing Airport Fire Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in unincorporated Riverside County, Calif. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Firefighters battle the Boyles Fire in Clearlake, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A charred tricycle remains after the Airport Fire swept through Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in El Cariso, an unincorporated community in Riverside County, Calif. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
A firefighter passes a home destroyed by the Boyles Fire in Clearlake, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Vehicles sit destroyed after the Airport Fire swept through Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in El Cariso, an unincorporated community in Riverside County, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
People watch as the Line Fire advances in Mentone, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Trees are consumed by the Bridge Fire near Wrightwood, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A firefighter hoses down a vehicle after the Airport Fire swept through Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in El Cariso, an unincorporated community in Riverside County, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Firefighters establish a defense perimeter around a house threatened by the Bridge Fire in Wrightwood, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
The Airport Fire is reflected on Lake Elsinore, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Lake Elsinore, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
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