Wildfires

Wildfires - USA

San Diego - Thousands of people fled their homes ahead of an aggressive wildfire that destroyed several houses in the city of Carlsbad as a heat wave gripped Southern California, sparking blazes in several spots in the region.

Mandatory evacuations were in progress, and more than 11,000 notices were sent to homes and businesses, city officials said.

The blaze was one of several wildfires that firefighters in San Diego County were battling amid hot, dry and windy conditions.

Two homes could be seen burning in TV broadcasts from Carlsbad. State fire Capt. Mike Moehler told KCAL-TV that structures were actively burning, but he didn't know how many.

A power outage also shut down the city's Legoland California amusement park.

Another wildfire further north forced the evacuation of residents in military housing at Camp Pendleton, and the closure of an elementary school on the Marine Corps base. A third fire spread from a burning vehicle on coastal Interstate 5 to roadside brush near the northwest corner of the Marine base.

State fire officials say triple digit temperatures and dry conditions from the drought were making for an unusually busy firefighting season.