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One of the nine fires burning in San Diego County suddenly flared on Thursday afternoon and burned close to homes as new winds arrived.
The flare-up near the state university city of San Marcos occurred after a half-day lull in winds that firefighters had seized as an opportunity to make progress against flames that have scorched thousands of acres.
State fire Captain Kendal Bortisser said the fire was running east along hillsides behind California State University San Marcos.
The flare-up appeared to involve a change in wind direction. On previous days there was offshore flow – generally from the northeast. But on Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service reported winds out of the northwest.
Fires began erupting on Tuesday amid high heat, extremely low humidity and gusty Santa Ana winds. By Wednesday, nine fires were burning.
Asked about the possibility of arson, county Sheriff Bill Gore said earlier on Thursday he wouldn't prejudge the investigations. He noted that sparks from vehicles can easily ignite brush in such dry conditions.
Emergency officials said a significant number of firefighting aircraft had become available, including four air tankers and 22 military helicopters.
Ten of the military helicopters were being used to battle a blaze that grew to 9.37 square miles on the marine corps' Camp Pendleton. Despite its growth, the fire was 20% contained and was no longer considered a threat to communities.
Twelve other military helicopters were available to the county, where the biggest concern was a 1.25-square-mile blaze at the city of San Marcos. That fire was 5% contained and thousands of people remained evacuated, but officials told a news conference they were beginning to assess repopulating areas.
The wildfires drove tens of thousands from their homes and shut down schools and amusement parks, including Legoland. The amusement park reopened on Thursday.
Firefighters contended with temperatures approaching 100F (38C) and gusty winds as they tried to contain flames fuelled by brush and trees left brittle by drought. Extremely high temperatures were occurring again Thursday, ranging in the high 90s to 100 in the northwestern area of the county where the fires burned.
The heat was so intense that records continued to be broken in southern California and horse racing was canceled at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, east of Los Angeles.
Officials said a Carlsbad-area blaze was 60% contained and had burned 400 acres. The wildfire destroyed an 18-unit condominium complex and four residences, Carlsbad mayor Matt Hall said. Some evacuation orders were being lifted in Carlsbad, but a major power outage and hotspots were still a concern.
Efforts were focusing on San Marcos, where hundreds of new evacuation orders were issued early Thursday. More than 20,000 evacuation notices were sent to residents Wednesday, and a California State University campus with nearly 10,000 students in the middle of final exams was shut down. Graduation ceremonies were canceled.
Tuzo Jerger was one of thousands told to evacuate because of the Carlsbad fire. The 66-year-old real-estate broker packed files, a surfboard, golf clubs, clothes and photos and sought solace at a friend's hilltop house in nearby San Marcos, only to see a wildfire break out there and force thousands from their homes.
"I thought, 'Oh my God, it's going to come this way,'" Jerger said.
The blaze in the coastal city of Carlsbad, about 30 miles north of San Diego, was the most destructive of the fires so far. Many schools across the county were closed on Thursday. Officials expected some would not reopen until next week.
Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for San Diego County, which would free up special resources and funding for the firefight, and state fire officials were creating a central command centre for the blazes.
Drought conditions have made fire danger extremely high throughout much of California. Officials have encouraged residents in fire-prone areas to prepare evacuation plans and clear brush near their homes.
Carlsbad's fire chief said the blazes were unprecedented in his 27-year firefighting career because they are so early in the year.
"This is May, this is unbelievable. This is something we should see in October," Michael Davis said. "I haven't seen it this hot, this dry, this long in May."
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