LOS ANGELES, July 11 (Xinhua) -- A wildfire burning in U.S. Southern California exploded to nearly 2,700 acres (about 10.9 square kilometers) Saturday, forcing evacuations amid dangerous heat wave.
The blaze, dubbed the Summit fire, was reported at about 1 p.m. Friday local time in Llano, a small community near the Los Angeles and San Bernardino county line. It has been zero contained as of Saturday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued for nearby areas. Officials said firefighters continue to battle the wildfire from both the air and the ground. Steep and rugged terrain is making access challenging, but crews remain actively engaged, with helicopters providing aerial support.
Temperatures in the area reportedly climbed to nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) on Friday, and a heat advisory remains in effect for much of Southern California through Tuesday morning.
