New orders to evacuate as fire flares up

A MASSIVE wildfire near Los Angeles flared up yesterday and a new evacuation order was issued for homes in a remote canyon.

Fifteen to 20 homes were ordered to be evacuated as winds pushed flames into Pacoima Canyon north-east of Los Angeles, said John Huschke of the US Forest Service. The canyon lies in a 8 kilometre gap in firelines that crews hope to close later in the day.

Elsewhere, crews made good progress overnight against the 567-square-kilometre fire that’s destroyed 64 homes. Authorities said it still threatens 12,000 homes.