Evacuations ordered as winds pose challenges for firefighters battling California blaze

BISHOP, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters stopped the forward spread of a wildfire tearing through a remote area of eastern California, but evacuation orders for residents of hundreds of homes remained in place, officials said Monday evening.

The Silver Fire erupted Sunday afternoon along Route 6 in Inyo County, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) northeast of Bishop in the Owens Valley, near the Nevada border. The cause was under investigation.

It had churned through nearly 2.5 square miles (about 6.5 square kilometers) of grass and brush, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Monday in a post on the social platform X. It was 47% contained.

Residents of about 800 homes near the tiny communities of Laws, Chalfant and White Mountain Estates had been ordered evacuated after the fire broke out. Officials didn’t provide an update Monday evening on how many people were still under those orders.

Crews were expected to stay overnight to keep an eye on hotspots and work on containment.

The potential for 65 mph (104 kph) gusts had limited flights by water-dropping helicopters and kept air tankers grounded, Cal Fire spokesperson Chloe Castillo said earlier Monday.

"The winds are very erratic," she said. “One minute they're pushing north, the next they're going east.”

Cal Fire said the blaze was threatening land belonging to the Bishop Paiute Tribe as well as habitats for endangered species including the Owens pupfish and desert bighorn sheep.

Inyo County has received very little recent precipitation and is abnormally dry, with some areas experiencing extreme drought.

Similarly, most of Southern California is in moderate to extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

This image provided by the Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit shows fire crews battling the Silver Fire, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Inyo County, Calif. (Cal Fire via AP)

This image provided by the Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit shows a firefighter hosing down hot spots from the Silver Fire, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Inyo County, Calif. (Cal Fire via AP)

This image provided by the Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit shows fire crews battling the Silver Fire, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Inyo County, Calif. (Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit via AP)

This image provided by Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit shows the Silver Fire burning in a field, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Inyo County, Calif. (Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit via AP)

This image provided by Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit shows a helicopter being flown over the Silver Fire, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Inyo County, Calif. (Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit via AP)

This image provided by the Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit shows a dozer being used to set a containment line while crews battle the Silver Fire, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Inyo County, Calif. (Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees postponed Saturday's game against Tampa Bay because of a forecast for sustained rain and will make it up as part of a day-night doubleheader on Sept. 22.

Tickets for the postponed game can be used for the 1:05 p.m. game on Sept. 22, which becomes the opener of a four-game series. That day's regularly scheduled game starts at 7:05 p.m.

Both teams pushed back their scheduled starters by a day for Sunday's finale of this weekend's truncated, two-game series. Ryan Weathers (2-2) starts for the Yankees and Drew Rasmussen (4-1) for the Rays.

New York has lost three straight games and 10 of 14.

Tampa Bay has won five straight and 16 of 19. The Rays, a big league-best 34-15, are 4-0 against the Yankees and lead New York by 5 1/2 games in the AL East.

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New York Yankees Aaron Judge (99), exits the field after been out in first base during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Thursday, May 21, 2026. in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)