100 homes gutted in California wildfire

The Blue Cut fire, named for a narrow gorge near its origin in the Cajon Pass about 120 km northeast of Los Angeles, has blackened 37,000 acres (14,973 hectares) of drought-parched heavy brush and chaparral after breaking out on Tuesday.

The blaze has destroyed 96 single-family homes and 213 outbuildings, according to a preliminary assessment from teams in the field, fire information officer Lyn Sieliet said by telephone.

Officials said firefighters were able to carve containment lines around 40 per cent of the blaze as of Friday night, despite dry, hot and windy weather conditions and treacherous terrain. 

The intensely burning blaze, which has produced cyclone-like whirls of flame, continued to threaten some 34,500 homes and other structures in communities including the ski resort town of Wrightwood, fire officials said. 

More than 80,000 residents were told to evacuate their homes on Tuesday.