A fast-spreading brush fire prompted evacuation orders Friday afternoon in a sparsely populated area of Los Angeles County, exacerbated by dry and scorching hot conditions.
The fire ignited around 1 p.m. in a remote high desert region approximately 45 miles northeast of Los Angeles, according to the LA County Fire Department. Temperatures in the vicinity reached nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
By Friday evening, the fire had grown to 2,200 acres (890 hectares), officials from Angeles National Forest reported. It remains unclear how many structures are threatened by the blaze.
Piñon Hills, a community of about 7,200 residents located in San Bernardino County to the east of the fire, was under an evacuation warning by Friday evening. This area is adjacent to the fire's perimeter.
The region is entering a period of heightened wildfire risk as much of the U.S. faces a heat wave this weekend. A strong and persistent heat dome is expected to cause temperatures to be 15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than normal in some areas, increasing the potential for fires in drought-stricken regions.