Rain calms Southern California wildfires that destroyed homes, cars

Rain calms Southern California wildfires that destroyed homes, cars

LOS ANGELES — A rare summer storm helped firefighters advance Saturday on a wildfire that swept across a California interstate, torching vehicles and sending people running for their lives before burning property in a desert town.

Light rain and moist air dampened the blaze that began Friday afternoon in the mountainous Cajon Pass 55 miles northeast of Los Angeles, the main route connecting Southern California and Las Vegas.

Pushed by 40 mph winds, it raced up a hill and onto the traffic-clogged freeway, trapping hundreds of people in a cauldron of smoke, flames and ash.

Drivers and their passengers abandoned their cars as flames hopscotched down the freeway, destroying 20 vehicles, several of which exploded in fireballs.

“You could hear the explosions from people’s vehicle tires popping from the heat,” said Lance Andrade, a 29-year-old railroad conductor from nearby Apple Valley who found himself caught in the traffic jam just as the fire jumped the freeway.

Evacuation orders for residents were lifted Saturday afternoon as firefighters contained 45 percent of the blaze, Mason said.