Los Angeles knows nothing of winter, but Californians are facing their own troubles. Wildfires are common in this area, and the fact that is it now mid-November is of no importance – although much stronger during the scorching Californian summers, the winter season also gives firefighters quite some nuisances.

Today, a wildfire was spread by powerful wind blasts, in the northern Los Angeles area. Ten houses in the area were burned to the ground and a whopping one thousand homes were threatened by the quick-spreading, rapidly strengthening wildfire. At the same time, the Santa Barbara County was also overrun with flames. The local firefighters had to take on a blaze that had managed to destroy more than 100 houses.

Sylmar is a community near the Angeles National Forest. The little foothill community was also endangered by the spreading of a wildfire on Friday. The fire spread over two square miles and left everything charred in a matter of just a few hours. The fire’s proportions prompted Sylmar officials to urge 5,000 residents to leave their homes and the area, to avoid casualties. The message was very strong and direct, as fires can spread unbelievably quickly. Underestimating the damages that can be caused by a natural phenomenon usually leads to catastrophes.

Some people refused to leave their homes and all of their possessions. They armed themselves with water hoses and hung back to protect their homes and possibly aid the firefighters. Others grabbed their family and pets and left, panicked by the fact that they could actually see the smoke from their homes. More than 500 firefighters were on the job.