A new, rapidly spreading wildfire has ignited in Los Angeles County, necessitating the evacuation of tens of thousands of individuals from a region already experiencing the most devastating fires in its history.
On Wednesday morning, the Hughes fire ignited in a mountainous area near Castaic Lake, located 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Los Angeles. Various residential neighbourhoods and institutions surround this region.
Over several hours on Wednesday, it grew to more than 10,000 acres, fueled by dry vegetation and strong winds. Officials hope the situation can be resolved without damaging homes or businesses.
A new fire has ignited north of the two massive blazes that have devastated several neighbourhoods this month.
Local news showed residents near the Hughes fire spraying their homes and gardens with water while others hurried to evacuate.
The mountains were engulfed in orange flames as aircraft dumped water and flame retardant.
Los Angeles County Faces Ongoing Red Flag Warning and Fire Risks
The region is currently under a red flag caution, which will persist until Thursday. This is a warning of a high fire risk resulting from the arid, low-humid conditions and strong winds.
Winds in the area were gusting at about 20-30 mph (32-48 km/h) but could increase, worsening the fire and making it more challenging for air personnel.
According to scientists, the vegetation and shrubs contributing to the Los Angeles fires have become more susceptible to fire due to climate change.
In recent years, the region has experienced a significant amount of tinder-dry vegetation poised to ignite due to the rapid “whiplash”-style transitions between dry and damp conditions.
According to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, approximately 31,000 individuals in the vicinity are currently subject to a mandatory evacuation order, while an additional 23,000 have been advised that they may be required to evacuate. He also mentioned that nearly 500 detainees at a nearby jail were being evacuated.
Even as the fire grew larger with the sunset on Wednesday, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone remains hopeful that his team is making headway.
“The situation remains dynamic, and the fire remains difficult to contain, although we are getting the upper hand,” he said. According to its website, Cal Fire, California’s statewide fire agency, pronounced the fire 14% contained early on Thursday.
The term “100% contained” does not necessarily imply that a fire has been extinguished; rather, it signifies that the flames have been completely encircled and the spread has been effectively halted.
According to officials, the fire was distinct from the Palisades and Eaton fires, which resulted in the destruction of over 10,000 homes and businesses and resulted in the deaths of at least 28 individuals earlier this month.
Chief Marrone stated that they were benefiting from lower winds, which were in stark contrast to the 70-90mph winds observed during the previous fires, and the presence of numerous helicopters and aircraft that could combat the blaze from above.
“I think we’ve all been on edge over the last 16 days,” he said. “We were able to amass a lot of fire resources early on to change what this fire looks like.”
Ed Fletcher, an employee of Cal Fire, told the BBC that the region was lightly populated and that the prevailing winds pushed the fire toward Castaic Lake, which acted as a barrier for the surrounding Castaic area with about 20,000 residents.
However, he states, “if it jumps the lake, the situation becomes significantly more dynamic.”
According to NBC 4, a woman who escaped her residence was stranded on Interstate 5, the primary transportation highway traversing California. The fire had resulted in the closure of portions of the interstate in the vicinity.
She described the dark smoke and scarlet flames she observed as “like a cloud, but as you approached, it appeared as though we were driving into hell.” “It was pretty terrifying.”
She acknowledged being on edge because she had witnessed the nearby Palisades and Eaton fires. “I don’t know why they keep popping up,” she asserted. “It’s a scary time in this area.”
Further south, near Oceanside and San Diego, two more fires ignited on Wednesday. The Lilac fire, which scorched 85 acres, has been fully contained. Like the isolated Centerfire, which consumed four acres, it also affected populated regions. Most evacuation orders have now been lifted.
Dana Dierkes, a spokesperson for the Angeles National Forest, observed that the recent fires were significantly more difficult to suppress due to the dry vegetation and strong winds.
“In California, there is no fire season.” She stated, “We are experiencing a fire year.” “We have previously experienced wildfires in January; however, the Santa Ana winds have significantly exacerbated the situation.” We have experienced an exceptionally arid year, and the wind has been a significant factor.
The weekend forecast in the region indicates that rain will fall, a positive development that will alleviate the fire threat. However, the anticipated rainfall is arousing new concerns in mudslides, inundation, and landslides.
Areas affected by the recent fires are at a higher risk of damage because the ground is less absorbent.
On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to allocate resources for flood and landslide mitigation in the aftermath of the conflagration.
Crews have filled thousands of sandbags to protect vulnerable areas.
