Arson suspected as fires force thousands to flee homes

THOUSANDS were evacuated and two major freeways were closed yesterday as flames, pushed by high winds, jumped ridges and roads in California.

More than 3,800 acres of the San Bernardino National Forest have been scorched since the fire started on Tuesday in the heavily developed area about 50 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.

Billowing clouds of smoke hung above the area as the California Highway Patrol ordered closure of Interstate 210, an east-west highway running north of Los Angeles, and Interstate 15, the main route from Southern California to Las Vegas.