California firefighters continue to battle wildfires that have swept through the Los Angeles metropolitan area and have already destroyed numerous homes, the "Associated Press" reported. Dozens of residents have been forced to leave their homes, and large-scale evacuations have caused huge traffic jams on major highways, quoted by BTA.
The first fire broke out late last night near a nature reserve near Los Angeles. The flames spread so quickly that the staff of a nursing home had to urgently evacuate its residents. Among those rescued was a 102-year-old man. The evacuation operation involved ambulances, buses and even construction trucks.
Meanwhile, another fire that broke out earlier in the day engulfed the prestigious Pacific Palisades neighborhood, home to a number of celebrity mansions. Dozens of residents fled the area on foot, often abandoning their cars in the streets and carrying the bare necessities with them.
On Palisades Drive, abandoned cars blocked the boulevard, making it difficult for emergency vehicles to access. A bulldozer had to be used to push the obstacles away. On the famous Pacific Coast Highway, footage was taken of homes and business buildings completely burned down.
A third fire broke out around 10:30 p.m. local time in Sylmar County in the San Fernando Valley, forcing an emergency evacuation of the northernmost neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The causes of the three fires are still under investigation as firefighters and rescue teams continue to battle the blaze in extremely difficult conditions.