A wildfire dubbed the Line Fire has been raging in the foothills of the San Bernardino National Forest, about 65 miles east of Los Angeles, amid a heat wave that brought temperatures into the triple digits. Evacuations were expanded as the blaze burned uncontrolled, scorching about 11 square miles of grass and chaparral. The cause of the fire, which began on Thursday, is still under investigation.
Approximately 500 firefighters, as well as water-dropping helicopters and aircraft, were working to contain the fire, which had the potential for significant growth in the next 12 hours. Thick smoke and leaping flames were visible in the area, but no injuries or structural damage had been reported.
The extreme heat, with downtown Los Angeles reaching a high of 112 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday, was exacerbating firefighting efforts. This was only the third time in over a century that such a high temperature had been recorded in the city. The fire highlighted the ongoing threat of wildfires in California, especially during periods of hot weather and dry conditions.
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