DISASTERS

The Latest: California fire drives over 80,000 from homes

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Cal Fire firefighter sets a backfire as he is silhouetted against the fire on Lone Pine Canyon Rd. in Wrightwood, Calif. early Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. Officials in charge of the battle against California's newest huge wildfire estimate that only about half of the 4,500 residents of the threatened town of Wrightwood have complied with evacuation orders. The fire is climbing the flanks of the San Gabriel Mountains, where Wrightwood sits at an elevation around 5,900 feet. (AP Photo/Rick McClure) (The Associated Press)

Burned property at Hess Road and Highway 138 shows the devastation of the BlueCut fire in West Cajon Valley, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo) (The Associated Press)

This Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016 photo Heavy fire envelopes Hwy 138 at Hess Rd in Phelan, Calif. as firefighters prepare to battle a wildfire spreading through San Bernardino County. Officials in charge of the battle against California's newest huge wildfire estimate that only about half of the 4,500 residents of the threatened town of Wrightwood have complied with evacuation orders. The fire is climbing the flanks of the San Gabriel Mountains, where Wrightwood sits at an elevation around 5,900 feet. (AP Photo/Rick McClure)2 (The Associated Press)

The Latest on California wildfires (all times local):

6 a.m.

Southern California firefighters face another day of difficult weather conditions as they battle a huge wildfire that has driven more than 80,000 people from their homes and shut down major transportation routes.

The National Weather Service says conditions will be very warm and dry Wednesday, with gusty south to southwest winds and very low humidity levels — as low as 3 percent in the afternoon.

The fire broke out late Tuesday morning 60 miles east of Los Angeles in Cajon Pass and spread with astonishing speed over 28 square miles, burning an unknown number of homes and threatening many more.