The smoky fire exploded in size to over 16 square kilometers within a few hours of breaking out around dawn in Orange County, south of Los Angeles. Strong gusts pushed flames along brushy ridges in Silverado Canyon and near houses in the sprawling city of Irvine, home to about 280,000 residents. It said the region will remain under a red flag warning — signifying a high risk of wildfire — through Tuesday evening. Evacuations have been complicated by the coronavirus pandemic, which has hit the Golden State hard and hampered the work of firefighters. It noted that wind gusts upwards of 130 kilometers an hour were expected in mountain areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Source: Manila Times October 27, 2020 11:26 UTC