A fast-moving wildfire erupted Sunday afternoon near Bishop, California, forcing residents to evacuate as flames rapidly consumed over 1,000 acres of vegetation.
The blaze, dubbed the Silver Fire, began around 2:11 p.m. near Highway 6 and Silver Canyon Road in Inyo County, close to the Nevada border. By 8 p.m., the fire had grown to 1,000 acres with zero percent containment, according to the Inyo County Sheriff's Office.
Officials ordered mandatory evacuations for multiple communities, including Laws in Inyo County, Chalfant in Mono County, and the White Mountain Estates neighborhoods. Authorities also closed a 30-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 6 as the fire crossed the roadway.
Strong winds hampered firefighting efforts, with gusts reaching up to 35 mph at Bishop Airport. The extreme turbulence forced some firefighting aircraft to remain grounded, complicating containment operations. The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning through Monday evening, forecasting southwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 65 mph.
The fire threatens multiple structures and power lines in the area. An evacuation center has been established at Bishop Senior Center to assist displaced residents. As of Monday morning, the fire had expanded to 1,250 acres.
No injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Cal Fire images show thick black smoke rising from orange flames consuming dry brush in the area.