Nearly 3,000 told to evacuate amid California wildfire

The fast-growing fire has burned more than 40 square miles of brush in canyons and mountains north of LA

Published June 3, 2013 11:33AM (EDT)

PALMDALE, Calif. (AP) — Officials estimate that nearly 3,000 people from some 700 homes are under evacuation orders as a wildfire rages north of Los Angeles.

LA County Sheriff's Lt. David Coleman said at a news conference Sunday that evacuees wouldn't be returning home until at least Monday and possibly Tuesday.

Coleman says about 2,000 people and 500 homes were under evacuation orders in the community of Lake Elizabeth, and about 800 people from 200 homes were affected in Lake Hughes.

He says another 1,000 people and 250 homes could be evacuated in the community of Green Valley if the fire moves much closer.

The fast-growing fire had burned about 40 square miles of brush in canyons and mountains about 50 miles north of downtown LA.

Six homes have been destroyed and 15 damaged.

California Wildfire Prompts Emergency Declaration


By Associated Press

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