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Homes Burn as Winds Push California Fire into Desert

Associated Press

   JUNIPER HILLS, CALIFORNIA - Strong afternoon winds intensified a
   wildfire burning for nearly two weeks in mountains northeast of Los
   Angeles, prompting authorities to issue new evacuation orders Saturday
   for desert communities that lost some homes a day earlier.

   Meanwhile, officials were investigating the death of a firefighter on
   the lines of another Southern California wildfire that erupted earlier
   this month from a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used by a couple
   to reveal their baby's gender.

   The death occurred Thursday in San Bernardino National Forest as crews
   battled the El Dorado Fire about 120 kilometers east of Los Angeles,
   the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement.

   In northern Los Angeles County, firefighters focused on protecting
   homes Saturday as increasingly erratic winds pushed the Bobcat Fire
   toward foothill communities in the Antelope Valley after churning all
   the way across the San Gabriel Mountains. An evacuation order was
   issued Saturday for all residents in that zone as the fire burned
   toward Wrightwood, a mountain community of 4,000, said fire
   spokesperson Andrew Mitchell.

   The fire grew to 368 square kilometers on Saturday when winds pushed
   the flames into Juniper Hills.

   Some residents fled as blowing embers sparked spot fires, hitting some
   homes but sparing others. Bridget Lensing feared her family's house was
   lost on Friday after seeing on Twitter that a neighbor's house three
   doors down went up in flames.

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