DHAKA: Fire crews in California are struggling to contain a wildfire that has destroyed 18 homes and threatens hundreds of others in mountains north of Los Angeles.

The fire covers more than 22,000 acres and residents of about 1,500 homes near Santa Clarita have been evacuated.

A body has been found in a burned-out car but it is not clear if the death is fire-related, BBC reports on Monday (July 25).

Strong winds have fanned the flames and blown smoke and ash across Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp said that ‘It started consuming houses that were non-defendable’.

He said that the flames had charged through the terrain ‘like a freight train’.

The blaze, known as the Sand Fire, broke out on Friday in the Sand Canyon area near Santa Clarita, on the edge of the Angeles National Forest.

About 900 firefighters are battling the flames, helped by helicopters and aeroplanes dumping water and fire retardant.

BDST: 1134 HRS, July 25, 2016
SAS/AKA