Raging Wildfire Forces Thousands to Flee in Southern California

ABC News

Image from the California wildfire.

A fast-growing brush fire has forced thousands of people to evacuate in a mountainous area north of Los Angeles.

The Canyon Fire broke out at around 1:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, quickly growing to more than 1,050 acres within three hours, according to Ventura County emergency officials. By late afternoon, the blaze remained completely uncontained and was spreading east.

Authorities in Los Angeles County placed around 4,200 residents and 1,400 structures under mandatory evacuation orders, with a further 12,500 residents under evacuation warnings. “We’re doing a significant initial attack,” said Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Andrew Dowd, describing the threat as an “immediate danger to life.”

Dowd said the fire’s rapid growth was fuelled by extreme heat, low humidity, rugged terrain, and dry vegetation. About 250 firefighters, supported by helicopters and other aircraft, were battling the flames.

LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger urged residents to leave when instructed. “If first responders tell you to go, leave without hesitation,” she warned, noting that the fire was capable of spreading with “alarming speed.”

California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported the fire was burning east in light to medium vegetation and threatening power lines and the communities of Hasley Canyon and Hathaway Ranch. It had already crossed into LA County and was advancing towards Val Verde, though moving away from Piru.

The blaze is burning south of Lake Piru in Los Padres National Forest and close to Lake Castaic — an area scorched by the Hughes Fire in January, which consumed 15 square miles in just six hours and prompted mass evacuations.

Source: The Independent



PUKMEDIA