New Fire Erupts in Los Angeles, Burning Over 8,000 Acres
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Synopsis
A new wildfire in Los Angeles County has rapidly expanded to over 8,000 acres with zero containment. Mandatory evacuation orders have affected approximately 19,000 residents as the blaze continues to grow fueled by strong winds and dry vegetation.
Key Takeaways
- Hughes Fire has burned over 8,096 acres.
- Around 19,000 residents are under evacuation orders.
- The fire started near Castaic Lake in Los Angeles County.
- Palisades and Eaton fires have caused 28 fatalities this month.
- Firefighters are using helicopters and planes to combat the fire.
California, Jan 23 (NationPress) A rapidly spreading brush fire ignited in Los Angeles County, consuming 8,096 acres (32.76 square km) with no containment reported, as stated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
The fire, referred to as the Hughes Fire, began around 10:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday near Lake Hughes Road close to Castaic Lake, approximately 80 km northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Cal Fire indicated that it quickly expanded to its current size in under 6 hours and crossed into neighboring Venture County, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.
Driven by dry vegetation and the forceful Santa Ana winds, this latest wildfire in Southern California has spread swiftly, with local media reporting that around 19,000 residents are facing mandatory evacuation orders.
On Wednesday afternoon, students from middle and elementary schools within the Castaic area were evacuated, and the Castaic Sports Complex was also under an evacuation order, serving as a command center for firefighters.
The Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic relocated 476 inmates to the nearby North County Correction Facility.
This month has seen Los Angeles County overwhelmed by deadly wildfires, with the Palisades and Eaton fires being the largest, claiming 28 lives, prompting numerous mandatory evacuations, and destroying thousands of structures.
The National Weather Service Los Angeles issued warnings on Wednesday afternoon about the continuation of high winds throughout Southern California, further complicating firefighting efforts in the area.
“Winds will be strong enough to create explosive fire behavior,” stated meteorologist Ariel Cohen. “This is a highly unstable situation, and everyone needs to stay vigilant.”
The Palisades Fire has resulted in 11 fatalities, while 17 deaths occurred due to the Eaton Fire, leading to mass devastation that has left many residents seeking new housing.
Both fires are now reported to be 68% and 91% contained, respectively, following extensive firefighting efforts over the past two weeks.
Robert Jensen from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department urged immediate evacuation for residents near the new fire.
“We have witnessed the destruction brought on by people disregarding evacuation orders during the Palisades and Eaton fires. I don’t want to see a repeat of that here. If you have been given an evacuation order, please leave,” he emphasized.
Police were seen patrolling the area, instructing residents to evacuate as the fire advanced.
Footage captured helicopters and planes releasing water and fire retardant onto the blaze.
The aerial fleet included two Super Scoopers, large amphibious aircraft capable of transporting hundreds of gallons of water.
Firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest were actively engaged on the ground battling the flames.
The precise cause of the fire remains uncertain, but it ignited during red flag conditions, characterized by strong winds and low humidity, which facilitate rapid fire spread.
