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RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (AP) — A fresh blast of strong winds has hit the wildfire in the foothills east of Los Angeles but so far it's not spreading the blaze.
The U.S. Forest Service says the fire remains within the previous burn area despite winds that have reached 60 mph today. However, that's strong enough to force the grounding of helicopters and planes that were being used to fight the fire. It's also prevented an accurate mapping of the blaze that has charred at least 1,000 acres since it broke out yesterday in San Bernardino National Forest.
The fire is 10 percent contained.
The fire danger prompted officials to keep nine schools in nearby Rancho Cucamonga closed for a second day. Residents have been allowed to return home after evacuations but are being warned to be ready to leave again.
Some 700 firefighters with 55 fire engines and four bulldozers are building containment lines around the west edge of the blaze, nearest the homes.
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APPHOTO CARIE105: A firefighter sprays down brush as he battles a fire burning in Day Creek near the Etiwanda Preserve in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., on Wednesday, April 30, 2014. Fire officials say winds gusting to 60 mph are pushing the flames through the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, although no homes are in immediate danger. Several neighborhoods and at least seven schools in Rancho Cucamonga have been evacuated. There's no word on what sparked the blaze but it comes in the midst of a heat wave that's created extreme fire danger. (AP Photo/The Press-Enterprise, Stan Lim) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT (30 Apr 2014)
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APPHOTO CAONT302: A San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy goes door to door in the Rancho Etiwanda Estates area as the Etiwanda Fire burns in the hills above in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Wednesday, April 30, 2014. The wildfire driven by surging Santa Ana winds sent a choking pall of smoke through foothill neighborhoods, forcing the evacuation of at least 1,650 homes and the closure of at least seven schools. No homes burned, but the smoke prompted mandatory evacuation orders for several areas of town nestled at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles. More than 500 firefighters battled the flames near this city of 165,000 people. The fire was reported about 8 a.m., grew to 200 acres by noon, quadrupled in size within a few hours and continued to grow as it roared through dry brush. (AP Photo/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Rick Sforza) (30 Apr 2014)
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