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Thousands Forced To Evacuate In Fast-Growing Blue Cut Fire

DEVORE (CBSLA.com) — More than 1,300 firefighters Wednesday continued to battle a fast-moving wildfire that has forced thousands of residents from their homes.

The Blue Cut Fire erupted after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Cajon Pass near Devore.

The wildfire had burned 25,626 -- or 40 square miles -- and remained at zero percent containment as of Wednesday afternoon. There were 1,584 fire personnel on the scene.

FULL COVERAGE OF THE BLUE CUT FIRE

Mandatory evacuations were issued for residents of the Cajon Valley west of the 15 Freeway to Highway 2, and the Wrightwood, Lytle Creek Canyon, Lone Pine Canyon and Swarthout Canyon communities.

As many as 82,000 people have been affected by the evacuation orders so far.

A full list of evacuations, road closures and evacuation centers can be found on the US Forest Service's incident page.

An unknown number of homes burned in the Phelan area. The historic Route 66 Summit Inn in Hesperia was also destroyed.

Two firefighters were treated for minor injuries.

A smoke advisory has been issued for portions of the northwest and central San Bernardino Valley.

Schools within the Apple Valley Unified School District, Victor Valley School District, Oro Grande School District, Hesperia Unified School District, Barstow Unified School District, Helendale Unified School District, Adelanto Unified School District and the Snowline Joint Unified School District will remain closed until further notice due to air quality concerns.

Kimbark Elementary School has been closed for the day due to road closures in the Devore area. All other San Bernardino County Unified School District schools will be open.

The Blue Cut Fire has also shut down a large stretch of the 15 Freeway.

Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency due to the intensity of the wildfire.

Lyn Sieliet, a spokeswoman for the US Forest Service said the fire is a "once in a lifetime kind of a fire," and that its rapid rate of spread is "just unheard of."

 

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