Emergency evacuations have been ordered in Southern California after a fifth wildfire took hold, sparking fears of a destructive summer fire season. The blaze, dubbed Wolf Fire, was reported shortly after 3 p.m. on Sunday and evacuation orders were issued at around 6 p.m. once the blaze had spread to around 1,165 acres. Fire officials ordered residents around Highway 243, a road to the east of Los Angeles and close to Palm Springs, to leave the area because of an “immediate threat to life” from the fire. Officials also issued fire evacuation warnings, for those who may soon be ordered to leave the area as the fire spreads. Night-flying helicopters and firefighters worked through Sunday night to tackle the blaze but as of Monday morning, the fire was zero percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection website. Officials said the blaze was a vegetation fire and was primarily fuelled by medium to heavy brush—shrubby, woody plants, or low-growing trees—in Riverside County. California recorded lower than average rainfall through the typical rainy season between November and April which, along with hot, dry weather and strong winds, has created conditions perfect for wildfires. In January, massive wildfires ripped through the Pacific Palisades in southern California, killing 30 people in some of the deadliest blazes ever recorded in the state.
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