Evacuations ordered as wildfire burns national forest foothills east of Los Angeles

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Evacuations were expanded Saturday as a wildfire with leaping flames burned through the foothills of a national forest east of Los Angeles, amid a days-long heat wave that pushed temperatures into triple digits across the region.

The so-called “Line Fire” was burning out of control along the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest, about 65 miles east of Los Angeles. By Saturday afternoon, the blaze had charred about 11 square miles of grass and chaparral, leaving a thick cloud of black smoke blanketing the area.

The fire started Thursday evening and the cause is under investigation.

About 500 firefighters were battling the blaze, supported by water-dropping helicopters flying over houses and hills, as well as by planes.

Firefighters said the blaze had the “potential to spread widely” in the next 12 hours.

The fire produced thick clouds of smoke and flames were seen on hilltops.

No injuries were reported and no homes or other structures were damaged or destroyed.

The National Weather Service said downtown Los Angeles hit a high of 112 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday, marking the third time since 1877 that a high of 112 degrees or higher was reached there.