Two fires are approaching communities in Sierra and Fresno counties

As much of California endures a scorching heat wave, fires in the Tahoe and Fresno regions forced residents to flee their homes as firefighters battled the flames in scorching heat and difficult terrain.

Three firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling the major fire in Fresno County; however, no civilians were injured in the fires as of Wednesday.

In Sierra County, the flames of the Bear Fire are slowly approaching the Sierra Nevada communities of Sierra Brooks and Loyalton, the U.S. Forest Service of the Tahoe National Forest said Wednesday morning. The fire is being fueled by strong winds and dry vegetation.

The Bear Fire, which started Monday, had grown to 3,279 acres by Wednesday afternoon, prompting authorities to order the evacuation of residents of more than 500 homes in Sierra County. The fire was zero percent contained.

According to fire officials, strong winds fueled the fire and flames spread throughout much of the area Tuesday. Flames crossed Smithneck Road Tuesday, helping the fire spread east.

As the flames continued to spread about a mile from Sierra Brooks and three miles from Loyalton, more than 420 firefighters were busy protecting homes and infrastructure on Wednesday.

“Due to steep and rocky terrain, crews had difficulty accessing some burn areas, slowing work,” U.S. Forest Service officials said in a Facebook update. “Large amounts of dead and decaying fuels have served as a catalyst for the fire's rapid spread into brush and forest.”

High-voltage power lines were also damaged by the fire, leaving about 760 residents without power, according to the US Forest Service.

Firefighters attempted to slow the fire, build containment lines and contain the fire with water drops and fire retardants.

Meanwhile, the Boone Fire, which broke out Tuesday afternoon, has already burned 6,550 acres of land in Fresno County, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Wednesday evening.

According to Cal Fire, erratic winds and scorching temperatures made firefighting difficult.

According to the National Weather Service, firefighters had to battle the fire in Fresno County in triple-digit temperatures at least until Sunday. Temperatures of up to 40 degrees were expected on Thursday.

The fire raged west and northwest of Coalinga, but was 5% contained as of Wednesday morning.

Although the fire raged in a mostly open area of ​​Los Gatos Creek, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook Wednesday that it had identified about three dozen homes that were in the fire's path and that evacuation orders had been issued for those homes, the office said.

The fires occurred at a time when Southern California is approaching a heat wave, with temperatures reaching over 104 degrees Fahrenheit in the San Fernando Valley, Burbank, Woodland Hills, Pasadena, Santa Clarita and Palm Springs.