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RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (AP) — A wildfire driven by surging Santa Ana winds is sending smoke through Los Angeles-area foothill neighborhoods, forcing the evacuation of at least 1,650 homes.
No homes burned, but the smoke prompted mandatory evacuation orders for several areas of Rancho Cucamonga, nestled at the base of the San Bernardino National Forest east of Los Angeles. Classes were canceled at Los Osos High School about an hour after the fire started.
More than 500 firefighters are battling the flames. CalFire spokeswoman Liz Brown says gusts of 60 mph or more prevented firefighting helicopters from taking to the air.
The fire erupted in the midst of a heat wave that sent Southern California temperatures soaring into the 90s in some areas.
The heat was accompanied by winds gusting to 80 or 90 mph in some mountains and valleys.
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