Crazy Scene on Freeway: Wildfire Burns Cars

By now, we're used to seeing images of California wildfires destroying homes. But cars on the freeway? That was the case in San Bernardino County today as fast-moving fire swept across Freeway 15, reports KTLA. The fire destroyed 20 cars that had been abandoned on the road and damaged another 10. Drivers had time to escape, and no injuries have been reported. The Los Angeles Times puts it this way: "In a region where brush fires are a way of life, the scene on the main route to Las Vegas was surreal." TV news helicopters flew overhead as the abandoned vehicles, including two big rigs, burned.

"I've never seen anything like this before," says California Highway Patrol Officer Steve Carapia. In all, about 70 cars were left on the freeway as the fire closed in, which caused problems for emergency responders trying to put out the fires. CHP officers were bringing water to stranded drivers and trying to reunite them with their cars, assuming they were still drivable. (More wildfires stories.)