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Los Angeles

Photos: Southern California wildfire becomes 'monster'

Firefighters battle the fire near Cajon Pass.
Firefighters battle the Blue Cut wildfire near Cajon Pass, north of San Bernardino, California on August 16, 2016.
Ringo Chiu | AFP/Getty Images

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The Southern California wildfire that began as a small midmorning patch of flame next to Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass had by Tuesday's end turned into a 28-square-mile monster that had burned an untold number of homes.

Hundreds of cars packed with residents, belongings and animals left the town. The air for miles around the blaze was filled with smoke. The sound of explosions -- possibly from ammunition stored in homes -- could be heard in the distance.

More than 82,000 people from over 34,000 homes were under evacuation orders, said Eric Sherwin of the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

The fire erupted in a landscape ready to burn after years of drought and amid hot, dry and windy weather -- conditions not expected to begin easing until late Thursday or Friday.

Gallery
15 of 15
A wooden pole burns as the wildfire rages.
A wooden pole burns as the wildfire rages.
Ringo Chiu | AFP/Getty Images
1 of 15
Firefighters battle the fire near Cajon Pass.
Firefighters battle the Blue Cut wildfire near Cajon Pass, north of San Bernardino, California on August 16, 2016.
Ringo Chiu | AFP/Getty Images
2 of 15
A barbecue and other items burn.
A barbecue and other items burn as the the Blue Cut wildfire rages.
Ringo Chiu | AFP/Getty Images