The Powerhouse fire that has been raging across Southern California picked up over the weekend, leading to the evacuation of the Lake Elizabeth and Lake Hughes areas. Authorities are now saying that they have regained control over the flames.

Over the weekend, high winds and triple digit temperatures played a decisive role in the spread of the fire to Lake Elizabeth and Lake Hughes, where residents were forced to evacuate. Once those winds died and the temperatures cooled Sunday night, however, firefighters struck.

"Our actions last night were very aggressive," said Keith Mora of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, who was at an evacuation center giving residents periodic updates. "Part of our strategy today obviously is to get you back to your homes." 

The fire has scorched 25,000 acres thus far. That being said, the firefighters now believe they have about 40 percent of the flames controlled. After telling residents the good news, the community is in significantly higher spirits.

"I'm really optimistic about today," Mora said. "A few days in a shelter is horrible, I understand. Let's just give it a little more time."

The fire intensified very quickly, catching both the fire department and local residents off guard. What started as a controlled burn quickly turned in an instant into one that threatened the lives of nearby resident.

"We weren't worrying about it -- we thought it was being contained," said Nicoleta Trifa, 39, of Lake Hughes, who had been spending Saturday evening at the home she shares with friend Sheridan Harris.

Trifa and Harris report that the fire caught everyone by surprise. There was little time for preparation before they had to evacuate their home on Saturday, with authorities pounding on their door in a flash.

"The next thing you know, there are helicopters and sheriffs everywhere and [Trifa's] in the car, screaming at me to come on," Harris, 52, recalled after the two fled their home.


The Red Cross has stated that so far 149 people were registered at the evacuation center that was set up for the area. So far at least six homes have been lost to the blaze.