New Rapidly Spreading Fire Forces Thousands to Flee Los Angeles County
A fast-moving wildfire erupted Wednesday morning in Los Angeles County’s mountainous terrain near residential areas and schools, forcing thousands of people to evacuate as flames consumed over 10,000 acres near Castaic Lake.
The Hughes fire, which ignited 45 miles northwest of Los Angeles, prompted authorities to issue mandatory evacuation orders for 31,000 residents and evacuation warnings for an additional 23,000 people, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
Authorities also evacuated nearly 500 inmates from a local jail as the fire expanded, driven by winds of 20-30 mph (32-48 km/h). Aircraft have been deployed to drop water and flame retardant as orange flames line the mountains.
The blaze was 14% contained by early Thursday, according to California’s statewide fire agency, Cal Fire. No homes or businesses have been damaged.
“The situation remains dynamic and the fire remains a difficult fire to contain, although we are getting the upper hand,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told reporters.
Officials said conditions were more favorable than during the recent Palisades and Eaton fires, which killed 28 people and destroyed more than 10,000 structures earlier this month. Lower wind speeds — compared to the 70-90 mph winds during previous fires — and the availability of helicopters and planes have aided containment efforts.
Cal Fire official Ed Fletcher said Castaic Lake was acting as a buffer for the Castaic area – home to about 20,000 residents — but warned “if it jumps the lake, it becomes a much more dynamic situation.”
The region remains under a red flag warning through Thursday, indicating high fire risk due to strong winds and low humidity. Scientists attribute the increased fire vulnerability to climate change, citing recent extreme weather patterns that have created abundant dry fuel.
The fire has forced partial closures of Interstate 5, California’s main north-south transportation artery.
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