A new ‘Huge Fire’ has prompted evacuation orders or warnings for more than 50,000 people in the US state after a fast-growing wildfire ravaged Los Angeles, California.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire), the new fire broke out late Wednesday morning and has burned 9,400 acres and is below zero percent containment.
Thick plumes of smoke were seen near Castaic Lake, a popular recreation area in the northwest Los Angeles neighborhood, about 40 kilometers from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that are now in their third week.
CAL Fire data shows the Palisades fire, which has burned 23,448 acres to date, is 68 percent contained. The Eaton fire, meanwhile, is 91 percent contained after burning 14,021 acres.
Additionally, the Lilac Fire in San Diego is 95 percent contained, while the Clay Fire in Riverside is 45 percent contained.
At a press briefing Wednesday evening, CAL Fire Director Joe Tyler said, “There was a strong response to this (Hughes) fire today, and as you can see behind us, the responders were able to get the fire under control. Doing a great job in the effort.”
“Certainly, we’re not out of the woods yet,” Tyler added.
According to data provided by CAL Fire, there is another fire in San Diego County, the ‘Center Fire’. The date shown in the figures is that of the Hughes Fire, Wednesday, January 22. The fire has so far engulfed 4 acres of land.
Meanwhile, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said more than 31,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, while another 23,000 people have been issued evacuation warnings.
LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marvin said the fire is difficult to contain but firefighters have the upper hand in the battle.
Because the winds weren’t as strong as two weeks ago, Marvin said, air crews were able to drop tens of thousands of gallons of fire retardant on the south side of the fire where the flames were burning.
Wind forecast in California
The National Weather Service, however, said winds in the area, currently gusting to 42 mph, are expected to gust to 60 mph in the evening and Thursday.
“Offshore winds and low humidity will result in severe fire weather for parts of Southern California through Thursday,” the NWS said in a post on X .
It added that while wildfire risk “will remain high” throughout the period, conditions will be “increasingly dangerous tonight (Wednesday) into Thursday when winds and gusts reach 70 mph.” can”.
‘Hopefully there will be a home to return to’
Kayla Amara, a nurse who lives in nearby Valencia, went to the Stonegate neighborhood of Castac to pick up items from the home of a friend who had arrived to pick up her daughter from preschool. When Amara was packing the car, she realized that the fire had broken out in a big way and decided to put out the fire with the help of a water hose.
“Other people are also hiding their homes. I hope there will be a home to come back to,” Amara said as police cars drove through the streets and flames engulfed trees on a hillside in the distance. Taken, the Associated Press reported.
Amara expressed how she was constantly worried about the fire as wildfires raged in LA for weeks. “It’s been stressful with these other fires, but now that this fire is closer to home, it’s extremely stressful,” he said.
Health concerns
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned that winds could carry ash from the fire, advising residents to visit the city’s website to learn how to protect themselves from toxic air.
LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer issued a warning that ash can carry heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful substances. “Even a brief exposure can potentially cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems,” Ferrer said, urging people to wear protective clothing when cleaning.
(with AP input)
