Mobile homes burn in California, medical emergencies cited

By Associated Press 11 October 2019, 12:00AM

CALIMESA, Calif. (AP) — A mobile home community burned Thursday, resulting in "numerous medical emergencies" as a wildfire rapidly spread in Southern California, one of several blazes statewide fed by hot, dry winds, officials said.

The fire erupted in the Calimesa area of Riverside County and quickly destroyed about two dozen homes as crews with air support scrambled to contain it.

The cause was not known, and the area was not listed among the latest communities where Southern California Edison has cut power in an effort to prevent wildfires caused by windblown wires.

A county fire department statement reported "numerous medical emergencies" at Villa Calimesa Mobile Home Park about 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles. Further details were not provided.

Maryanne Fiske was part of a crowd in a restaurant parking lot awaiting word on whether their relatives at Villa Calimesa were safe.

"There was another lady over here who was really upset, who could see her mobile home on fire," Fiske told KABC-TV.

Students sheltered in place as smoke enveloped nearby Mesa View Middle School before buses arrived and evacuated them to another school outside the fire zone.

The blaze is one of several that have broken out since winds developed.

Two of the state's utilities shut off power to millions of residents as a precaution so their equipment won't spark fires.

Just to the west of Calimesa, firefighters contained a blaze that damaged two homes near Fontana. It was not immediately clear whether the power outage included the location where the fire broke out.

In Northern California, a fire burning on San Bruno Mountains south of San Francisco was 60 percent contained.

By Associated Press 11 October 2019, 12:00AM

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