A devastating wildfire, which ignited on Saturday afternoon in Gorman, northwest of Los Angeles, has rapidly spread across the area, burning more than 12,000 acres of land, according to California fire officials. The blaze, known as the Post Fire, has forced the evacuation of approximately 1,200 individuals as it continues its southeastward advance towards Pyramid Lake.

Fueled by strong winds and low humidity, the fire escalated overnight and jumped over to Ventura County, scorching an additional 2,000 acres, primarily in the Los Padres National Forest. As of Sunday afternoon, firefighting efforts have managed to contain only 2% of the fire, leaving it largely uncontrolled.

The severity of the situation has been further compounded by the relentless winds that have picked up in the region. Wind gusts reaching up to 55 mph have already been recorded, with forecasts indicating the possibility of gusts up to 70 mph later in the day. These conditions are expected to persist until Monday, significantly hampering firefighting operations.

Evacuation orders were issued for Hungry Valley Park, where around 1,200 people were evacuated by state park officials. Additionally, Pyramid Lake has been closed to the public due to the imminent threat posed by the fire. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries.

Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire, with CalFire leading the inquiry. Despite the swift response by emergency services, the wildfire season in California has already proven to be exceptionally aggressive this year. Since the beginning of the year, wildfires have consumed approximately 41,900 acres of land, surpassing the average of 27,100 acres burned during the same time period over the past five years, according to CalFire data.

As the battle against the Post Fire continues, firefighters are working tirelessly to contain and extinguish the flames. The safety and well-being of residents remains the top priority as communities grapple with the destructive power of this wildfire.