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Officials say wildfires in Southern California still pose a threat
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Officials say wildfires in Southern California still pose a threat

Firefighters were trying to get control of several wildfires burning in Southern California on Thursday morning, but they warned that danger still exists for communities near the fires.

The bridge fire has destroyed at least 20 homes in Wrightwood, Mt. Baldy Village and other mountain communities. More than 1,000 structures are still threatened by the fire, officials said Wednesday night.

The fire broke out Sunday in the Angeles National Forest and exploded from 4,000 acres to more than 50,000 acres between Tuesday and Wednesday. By Thursday morning, it had burned 51,167 acres without being contained.

Officials hope the lower temperatures will help extinguish the flames.

The two other large fires in Southern California — the Airport Fire and the Line Fire — have injured at least 13 people, including several firefighters. As of Thursday morning, the Airport Fire had burned 23,410 acres in Riverside and Orange Counties and was 5% contained, and the Line Fire in San Bernardino County had burned 37,207 acres and was 18% contained. Neighborhoods east of both fires remained under evacuation orders.

Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Wednesday evening due to the three fires.

Eight firefighters and two civilians were injured and sent to hospitals for treatment Monday and Tuesday as a result of the airport fire, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Sean Doran told The Times. Two of the victims suffered burns.

The agency did not provide information about the patients’ conditions or the severity of their injuries.