Los Angeles wildfire explodes, engulfing homes

California firefighters kept fighting the Bridge Fire, one of three out-of-control blazes that have erupted around Los Angeles, fueled by a punishing heat wave and fanned by gusting winds.

A wildfire ravaging the hills near Los Angeles had swelled in size by over 1,000 percent by Wednesday, torching dozens of homes and prompting a state of emergency.

Authorities issued widespread evacuation orders as the fire tore through the towns of Wrightwood and Mt Baldy. The fire broke out early Sunday afternoon in Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles, and initially remained fairly small.