USA: Huge fire raging on the outskirts of Los Angeles doubled in size in less than 24 hours

Huge fire raging on its outskirts Los Angeles doubled in size in less than 24 hoursthe fire department announced yesterday Thursday, while California and much of the western United States are faced with unprecedented heat wave.

Thousands of people have been asked to leave their homes in the area where the Fairview Fire is raging, which so far has burned more than 77,000 acres.

“The fire is moving towards the east, the south and in some areas that are north of the focus” the fire department pointed out.

Two people have already lost their lives from the fire which broke out on Monday in the middle of a heat wave, which has been affecting California as well as parts of Nevada and Arizona for a week. With the temperature approaching 45 degrees Celsius in some places, California’s power grid is under heavy strain.

California’s Independent System Operator (ISO), which is responsible for the state’s power grid, yesterday reiterated its call for citizens to “reduce consumption” from 3pm to 10pm, two hours longer than with previous announcements.

As APE-MPE reports, the mercury is expected to drop from today Friday thanks to the arrival of a cold front from Canada, according to meteorologists. But this phenomenon brings with it the risk of strong winds, which may intensify the fires.