Flames surround a large Coronado Hills neighborhood hill-top home that started to catch fire near Cal State San Marcos as crews battle a large wildfire threatening homes on May 14, 2014 in San Diego. Allen J. Schaben—Los Angeles Times/PolarisA wildfire burns along the hillside in San Marcos, San Diego on May 14, 2014. Irfan Khan—Los Angeles Times/PolarisInmates from Oak Glen Fire Camp in Riverside retreat to higher ground as the flames start to move close while they work to control the fire near Oriole Court in Carlsbad, Calif. on May 14, 2014. Hayne Palmour IV—APA bush is fully engulfed in flames near San Diego on May 13, 2014.Sandy Huffaker—ReutersA firefighter works in a canyon to help extinguish the fire north of San Diego on May 13, 2014. Mike Blake—ReutersA helicopter drops water to extinguish fire and protect homes north of San Diego on May 13, 2014. Mike Blake—ReutersFirefighters work to set up a hose as the porch of a home burns in San Marcos, in the San Diego county on May 14, 2014. Stuart Palley—EPAA home burns on top of a hill in San Marcos, San Diego county on May 14, 2014. Stuart Palley—EPAA firefighter on structure defense duty watches flames in San Marcos, San Diego county on May 14, 2014. Stuart Palley—EPAA Cal Fire airplane drops fire retardant on brush near Cal State San Marcos as crews battle a large wildfire threatening homes on May 14, 2014 in San Diego. Allen J. Schaben—Los Angeles Times/PolarisFire moves quickly through the Coronado Hills in San Marcos, San Diego county on May 14, 2014. Nick Morris—Demotix/CorbisJonathon Collopy, a resident of Fairbanks Ranch neighborhood, watches the fire burn near his house outside San Diego on May 13, 2014. Sam Hodgson—ReutersA firefighter battles the fire near San Diego on May 13, 2014.Sandy Huffaker—ReutersHelicopters fight fire burning near Fairbanks Ranch in San Diego on May 13, 2014. K.C. Alfred—Zuma PressCal Fire crews battle a wildfire in the Deer Springs area east of Fallbrook in San Diego on May 14, 2014. Allen J. Schaben—Los Angeles Times/PolarisA helicopter helps firefighters battle a blaze in San Marcos, San Diego county on May 14, 2014. Sam Hodgson—ReutersFirefighters battle the fire near San Diego on May 13, 2014. Sandy Huffaker—ReutersHouses smolder after a wildfire destroyed them, Carlsbad, Calif., May 14, 2014. K.C. Alfred—Zuma PressA Long Beach fire fighter looks out over a burned-out canyon in San Marcos, San Diego county on May 15, 2014. Mike Blake—Reuters
Updated: May 15, 2014, 7:30 a.m. E.T.
Wildfires whipped along by blustering winds during a massive drought have burned at least 30 homes and forced thousands to flee in southern California, where several blazes continue to burn as of Thursday morning.
At least 15,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes in Carlsbad, California, among the towns hardest hit by the wildfires. The Carlsbad fires also forced park officials on Wednesday to shut down Legoland, a local LEGO-themed amusement park.
Cal State San Marcos, a San Diego County college with approximately 10,000 students, and Camp Pendleton, an area Marine Corps base, have also been evacuated.
California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency late Wednesday after local county officials urged him to do so as firefighting resources ran thin in the face of spreading fires.
The cause of the fires is not known, but officials say temperatures reaching into the 100s and the ongoing drought in the region make the area ripe for wildfires.
Two firefighters have been injured fighting the blazes, one with a heat-related injury and another due to smoke inhalation.
