BREAKING NEWS: California brush fire creates multiple blazes

Cars ablaze as 3,500-acre California brush fire swallows freeway, homes

A rapidly growing 3,500-acre brush fire near San Bernardino, California has blocked a freeway and set multiple cars on fire. Five homes have been burned and 50 are in danger, fire officials said.

RT,

17 July, 2015

The San Bernardino County Fire Department has declared a "mass casualty incident" and hundreds of firefighters have been dispatched to battle the blaze.

. @SBCOUNTYFIRE says this is mass casualty incident, possible multiple people burned on 15 fwypic.twitter.com/sGs8ll2t6R

— Tara Wallis (@tarawallis) July 17, 2015

It's unclear how many may be injured, but the fire department stated that it is preparing to handle "multiple civilian burn victims."

A US Forest Service official told KLTA that two minor injuries have been reported.

#NorthFire along I-15 near Hesperia has swept across a the freeway and burned several vehicles. viapic.twitter.com/Vjiu6zUrAR

— News10 - California (@News10_CA) July 17, 2015

The fire originally grew from a small brush fire into one that engulfed a section of Interstate 15 in Cajon Pass. Multiple cars could be seen burning.

The fire department issued mandatory evacuation orders in Baldy Mesa: east of Sheep Creek Road, south of Phelan Road, and west of Route 395 and Interstate 15.

#BREAKING: Big Rig in #cajonpass now fully engulfed. Video of water drop.#NorthFire#brushfire#firepic.twitter.com/eRt9AwSYbR

— Now We're Talking! (@Fox11TalkNow) July 17, 2015

Some 70-80 vehicles were abandoned on the freeway, fire officials said.

Almost two-dozen fire engines have been dispatched to combat the flames, as well as three helicopters, two crews and one air attack plane, according to data supplied by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

#Breaking:#NorthFire swallowing cars & a boat(upper left)on I-15 #CajonPass. Mandatory evacuations in #BaldyMesaarea pic.twitter.com/bLOVyV3ec5

— Tena Ezzeddine (@TenaNBCLA) July 17, 2015

Local media caught officials dumping water onto vehicles from the air.

The fire department warned commuters not to leave their cars since falling water could cause serious injury.

KTLA photo: Helicopter drops water on car-carrier fire near #NorthFire -http://t.co/fIuusPZDlRpic.twitter.com/NyOQFjmDDA

— Grasswire Now (@GrasswireNow) July 17, 2015

Additionally, fire officials said five homes have been burned and another 50 are in immediate danger.

NorthFire (Update) #SBCoFD#StructureDefense group advising multiple homes involved Baldy Mesa Areapic.twitter.com/XH1p0R18GC

— SB County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) July 17, 2015

Huge fire along I-15 to Vegas flying into LA. #Yikespic.twitter.com/h2LkAA9e8H

— MaximumUniverse (@BehindThe8Balls) July 18, 2015

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