A fast-moving fire is devouring land and homes in Southern California. What started as a small blaze Tuesday in the mountainous Cajon pass grew to nearly 47 square miles by Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of more than 82,000 people, according to the Associated Press.
“This moved so fast,” Darren Dalton, 51, told the AP, who along with his wife and son had to get out of his house in Wrightwood. “It went from ‘Have you heard there’s a fire?’ to ‘mandatory evacuation’ before you could take it all in. This is a tight little community up here. Always in rally mode. Suddenly it’s a ghost town.”
The fire obliterated at least a dozen buildings, Eric Sherwin of the San Bernardino County Fire Department said according to the AP, including some homes and the Summit Inn, a historic diner.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- How Far Trump Would Go
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- Saving Seconds Is Better Than Hours
- Why Your Breakfast Should Start with a Vegetable
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- Welcome to the Golden Age of Ryan Gosling
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com