Ellington

BANNING, Calif. (AP) — A thousand firefighters are battling a wildfire burning out of control in Southern California's San Jacinto (hah-SIN'-toh) Mountains 90 miles east of Los Angeles.

State fire spokeswoman Julie Hutchinson says the fire is still officially at 6,000 acres—more than 9 square miles—but that's expected to increase after a Thursday morning mapping flight.

Flames are being pushed from west to east by a steady wind.

Fifteen structures are known to have burned since the blaze erupted Wednesday afternoon, but it's not known how many are homes. Two firefighters and a civilian have been injured.

About 1,500 people have been evacuated from small communities.