FAWNSKIN, Calif. — Firefighters on Sunday were battling two raging wildfires in Southern California that forced nearly 2,000 people to evacuate.
The larger blaze burned 15,433 acres of dense, dry bush in the San Bernardino National Forest and was 12 percent contained. Authorities initially said the charred 18,000 acres but infrared mapping overnight showed the fire was smaller.
About 340 residents were under mandatory orders to leave the Fawnskin area and another 1,200 voluntarily left their homes in the resort community of Green Valley Lake, Forest Service spokeswoman Carol Beckley said. Both communities are northwest of San Bernandino.
However, the fire was headed away from homes, Beckley said. The fire was at least at least 10 miles from the nearest desert community.
In eastern San Diego County, a wildfire erupted Saturday northeast of Julian, leading to the evacuation of about 400 people from the nearby subdivision of Whispering Pines.
The Angel Fire, which grew to 1,000 acres overnight, was 20 percent surrounded. One vacation home was destroyed and five outbuildings were damaged. Full containment was expected by Tuesday.
Evacuation orders were issued for homes along a state road.
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