Related: Wildfire leads to 1,300 evacuations in S. California

    BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Southern California wildfire apparently was ignited by remnants of a controlled forest burn that escaped, the Associated Press reported Tuesday, citing a U.S. Forest Service official.

    Hawkins, Chief of the Cleveland National Forest, said fire crews ignited a prescribed burn last Thursday in a 10-acre forest area near Sierra Peak, and at the time no Santa Ana winds were predicted for at least five days.

    But roots and other material can continue to burn underground if not fully mopped up.

    "Normally fire will burn for two weeks after you think they're out. ¡­ But that's no excuse, we had several days to mop that up with our fire engines," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.  

    The 3,500-acre blaze, which began Monday in the forest east of the cities of Anaheim and Orange, has forced more than 2,000 homes to evacuate.

    The wildfire had been contained, but the dry winds were forecast to continue through Wednesday. However, some residents had managed to return to evacuated areas. Enditem

(Agencies/Photo: Xinhua/Retuers)