Two wildfires burning out of control Saturday in California have left cities like Los Angeles looking eerie and supernatural as plumes of gray colored smoke filled the sky after more than 20,000 acres of land has been destroyed.
The Los Angeles basin is usually known as a sun-filled area in the summer, but due to the fires, smoke and ash is covering much of the populated city.
Many people took to social media to share pictures of the weirdly colored sky, noting how the wildfires have affected the area as thousands of homes and a sanctuary for exotic animals are threatened by one blaze.
Authorities say more than 300 firefighters who are being hindered by scorching temperatures of up to 112 degrees are battling a blaze in mountains north of Los Angeles known as the Sand Fire.
The Soberanes Fire is another blaze that is growing out of control near Big Sur on California's scenic Central Coast.
The super windy conditions and low humidity are not helping it from slowing down, as of Saturday evening, more than 6,500 acres of land have been destroyed and it's only five per cent contained.
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Two wildfires burning out of control Saturday in California have left cities like Los Angeles looking eerie and supernatural as plumes of gray colored smoke filled the sky after more than 20,000 acres of land has been destroyed. Above Santa Monica Beach is pictured on Saturday
The Los Angeles basin is usually known as a sun-filled area in the summer, but due to the fires, smoke and ash is covering much of the populated city. Above the red, orange and gray colored sky is scene in Los Angeles, as the sun tries to peak through and shine
The South Coast Air Quality Management District warned that at times air would reach unhealthy levels. Above a cloud of smoke from the Sand Fire is scene above the Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday
LA County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp said the LA fire chief was ready to join the incident command. Above a cloud of smoke from is scene above the LAX on Saturday
About 15 strike teams were put on alert in case flames made a push in that direction. Above smoke from the Sand Fire is seen from downtown Los Angeles on Saturday
Suburban Pasadena and Glendale closed their municipal pools because of smoke and falling ash. Above the Sand Fire cloud is scene above Los Angeles on Saturday as the sun is red
Neighborhoods within the city of Los Angeles lie along the so-called urban-wildland interface at the northeast edge of the valley. Above the gray colored smoke is scene hovering over Santa Monica
The fire was a threat to 1,000 homes by Saturday afternoon, and those communities were advised to pay attention to the news Tripp said. Above authorities coordinate in a parking lot as smoke is scene nearby
Smoke from the Sand Fire began looming over Los Angeles on Friday. Here it is viewed from Monterey Park
The South Coast Air Quality Management District warned that at times air would reach unhealthy levels. Suburban Pasadena and Glendale closed their municipal pools because of smoke and falling ash.
The fire erupted Friday afternoon in the Sand Canyon area of suburban Santa Clarita near State Route 14 as the region was gripped by high heat and very low humidity. Winds pushed it into the adjacent Angeles National Forest.
The fire was a threat to 1,000 homes by Saturday afternoon, and those communities were advised to pay attention to the news, Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp said.
'But if we were to get very extreme fire behavior, we're up to 45,000 homes ... mainly down in the San Fernando Valley,' Tripp said.
Neighborhoods within the city of Los Angeles lie along the so-called urban-wildland interface at the northeast edge of the valley.
Tripp said the Los Angeles fire chief was ready to join the incident command, and 15 strike teams were put on alert in case flames made a push in that direction.
Authorities say more than 300 firefighters who are being hindered by scorching temperatures of up to 112 degrees are battling a blaze in mountains north of Los Angeles, and another near Big Sur on California's scenic Central Coast. Above flames are seen in the Sand Fire
The Sand Fire is only at 10 per cent containment, as windy conditions are not making it easy for firefighters to battle the blaze. Above flames are seen in the Sand Fire
A man evacuates a pony as flames close in his home at the Sand Fire on Saturday near Santa Clarita, California
Many residents flee as flames close in on their homes at the Sand Fire on Saturday afternoon. This blaze started on Friday and has scorched more than 20,000 acres of land
The blaze in northern Los Angeles County grew to more than 17 square miles, spreading smoke across the city and suburbs, reducing the sun to an orange disk at times. Containment is only at 10 per cent. Above flames lap a wall of a home in the Sand Fire
The fire (above) erupted Friday afternoon in the Sand Canyon area of suburban Santa Clarita near State Route 14 as the region was gripped by high heat and very low humidity. Winds pushed it into the adjacent Angeles National Forest
Authorities advised residents to keep their windows and doors closed, as wildfires increase the particulate matter in the air. Above Sand Fire flames are reflected in a backyard swimming pool on Saturday
Tripp said: 'But if we were to get very extreme fire behavior, we're up to 45,000 homes ... mainly down in the San Fernando Valley.' Above residents flee their homes as flames close in on Saturday
This map shows the location of the fire in California. It also point to the Wildlife Waystation where more than 400 animals were being evacuated
Authorities advised residents to keep their windows and doors closed, as wildfires increase the particulate matter in the air.
The increased concentration of those particles can irritate the eyes, nose and throat,
Residents also are being asked to keep their windows and doors closed or seek alternative shelter Jo Kay Ghosh, SCAQMD's health effects officer, told the Los Angeles Times.
People who suffer from asthma could also experience difficulty breathing and have an increased risk of attacks. In addition, lung functions could be affected by the poor air quality, as people's ability to take deep breaths could suffer.
'(If the air quality is) making you uncomfortable, do whatever you can do to remove yourself,' Ghosh told the newspaper.
'At the end of the day, people need to use their judgment. … For people who are sensitive, I certainly would encourage them to be more careful.'
Hundreds of county and Angeles National Forest firefighters battled the blaze, aided by three dozen water-dropping helicopters and retardant-dropping airplanes.
Residents also are being asked to keep their windows and doors closed or seek alternative shelter Jo Kay Ghosh, SCAQMD's health effects officer said. Above the Sand Fire is seen in Santa Clarita on Saturday
Hundreds of county and Angeles National Forest firefighters battled the blaze, aided by three dozen water-dropping helicopters and retardant-dropping airplanes. Above A.J. Moberg, 15, waters down the roof of his family's house as the Sand fire approaches on Saturday
Forest Fire Chief Robert Garcia said early in the day smoke kept aircraft waiting for the air to clear. Above a resident flees in a motor home as a fire truck enters to battle the blaze closing in on the neighborhood near Santa Clarita
Inmate handcrew firefighters shield themselves from embers and heavy smoke as flames close in on houses at the Sand Fire on Saturday
About 400 animals were being evacuated from the Wildlife Waystation, a nonprofit sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures within the national forest. A Bengal tiger was sedated and trucked away. Above volunteers with the group watch the Sand Fire burn nearby
Metrolink train service in the area was halted Friday and on Saturday was subject to delay. Above flames blown by strong winds close in on homes on Saturday in Santa Clarita
Forest Fire Chief Robert Garcia said early in the day smoke kept aircraft waiting for the air to clear.
About 400 animals were being evacuated from the Wildlife Waystation, a nonprofit sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures within the national forest. A Bengal tiger was sedated and trucked away.
'We've got big cats, tigers, bears, we've got hyenas, we've got chimps,' executive director Susan Hartland told KABC-TV.
The sanctuary's Facebook page appealed for donations of flatbed and enclosed trucks as well as an air-conditioned warehouse to house the animals.
Over many years, the sanctuary has cared for thousands of animals ranging from lions and tigers to primates and exotic birds.
More than 220 horses, dozens of goats and other animals were taken from the fire area, animal control officials said.
About 300 miles up the coast (above), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighters battled a nearly 3-square-mile blaze in rugged mountains north of the majestic Big Sur region. The Soberanes Fire has destroyed more than 6,500 acres of land
The blaze 5 miles south of Garrapata State Park (above) posed a threat to about 1,000 homes and the community of Palo Colorado was ordered evacuated, Cal Fire said. A middle school in Carmel-by-the-Sea was readied as an evacuation center
Highway 1 and businesses in the Big Sur area, a major summer tourist destination, remained open on Saturday, despite the wildfire in the mountains (above) only being contained at five per cent
A large plume of smoke from the fast moving Sand Fire rises out of the hills of Santa Clarita County near Antelope Valley Freeway on Friday
A mushroom cloud of smoke was clearly visible from Highway 1 north of Los Angeles on Friday, as this fire is burning five miles south of Carmel, California
Metrolink train service in the area was halted Friday and on Saturday was subject to delays.
About 300 miles up the coast, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighters battled a nearly 3-square-mile blaze in rugged mountains north of the majestic Big Sur region.
The blaze 5 miles south of Garrapata State Park posed a threat to about 1,000 homes and the community of Palo Colorado was ordered evacuated, Cal Fire said. A middle school in Carmel-by-the-Sea was readied as an evacuation center.
Jerri Masten-Hansen and her husband said she and her husband watched the fire creep in near the coast.
'We felt threatened this morning and decided we needed to go,' Masten-Hansen told KSBW-TV.
A fire crew approaches as a wildfire burns on Friday next to Highway 14 in Santa Clarita on Friday
Commuters drive near the northbound Highway 14 during the Sand Fire in Santa Clarita on Friday, so far over 11,000 square miles of hillside have burned
Her sister also left her home down the road. 'I grabbed all the pictures of the kids, and then I took the paintings of my parents that had been done by a local artist,' Ellen Masten said.
More than 300 firefighters were on the lines. Highway 1 and businesses in the Big Sur area, a major summer tourist destination, remained open.
Red flag warnings - which warn that conditions are ideal for 'fire combustion' and the 'rapid spread' of flames - stayed in place for most of the region, the LA Times reported.
The Sand Fire was 'significantly larger' on Saturday, according to Richard Lincon of the LA County Fire Department.
He said: 'It's already heating up here,' Lincon said earlier on Saturday. 'There's a great possibility that the fire will increase in size.
'Our safety, as well as everyone who lives in this area, is the utmost priority. We're trying to make sure that everyone is safe.'
In addition to firefighters on the ground, the fire is being battled by four water-dropping helicopters and two fixed-wing firefighting aircraft.
More than 300 firefighters trying to put out the blaze are being hindered by temperatures of up to 112 degrees and 40mph winds on Friday and Satruday
Red flag warnings - which warn that conditions are ideal for 'fire combustion' and the 'rapid spread' of flames - stayed in place for most of the region. Above the Sand Fire is pictured on Friday
A helicopter drops water on flames from the Sand Fire in Santa Clarita on Friday in the 100-degree plus heat