Homes destroyed as winds push California fire into desert

JUNIPER HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Winds pushed an unrelenting wildfire burning in the mountains northeast of Los Angeles deeper into a Mojave Desert community, but firefighters looked to seize on more favorable weather on Saturday to protect homes and make headways into their nearly two-week battle.

An unknown number of homes were burned in Juniper Hills on Friday and surrounding communities are under evacuation orders.

Meanwhile, officials are investigating the death of a firefighter on the lines of another Southern California wildfire sparked by a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used by a couple to reveal their baby’s gender.

The death occurred Thursday in San Bernardino National Forest as crews battled the El Dorado Fire.