A fast-moving brush fire erupted near a huge amusement and water park in Southern California on Sunday, sending hundreds of visitors to the exit to escape clouds of smoke and ash before fire officials asked them to stay put while they worked to contain the blaze.
Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor announced the evacuation shortly after noon, citing concern for the safety of park visitors and employees.
About a half-hour later, the park said on its Twitter account that fire officials asked guests to shelter in place due to nearby road closures.
The image above shows smoke from a brush fire that ignited near Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California on Sunday
A helicopter flown by Los Angeles County Fire drops water on the brush fire as one of the amusement park's rides is seen in the background
Visitors to the park reported plumes of smoke and ash in the air, setting off a panic. As of Sunday evening, the fire was only partially contained
Park visitors were asked to move to the back of the 260-acre property, away from firefighting activity near the entrance, said Rachel Gallat, who was visiting a friend who works at the park.
'I was getting iced coffee and when I walked outside, ash was raining down on me,' Gallat said.
'There was a big cloud of smoke. I saw people around me panicking; they didn't know where they were supposed to go.'
A Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatcher told the Los Angeles Times the park voluntarily evacuated visitors.
The brush fire is seen above as it burns dangerously close to the highway near Six Flags Magic Mountain on Sunday
The fast-moving brush fire forced road closures, which hindered the evacuation of the amusement park
Los Angeles County firemen are seen above fighting a brush fire near Six Flags Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita, California
Initially, the fire forced the closure of nearby roads, prompting the amusement park to urge guests to shelter in place
But after some of the nearby roads were reopened, the parks evacuated visitors and closed for the day
A still image taken from a video obtained on social media shows smoke from a fire
