New Wildfire Erupts in Southern California, Forcing Mass Evacuations

 

A new wildfire broke out on Wednesday in Southern California, rapidly burning through over 39 square kilometers of trees and brush in the mountains north of Los Angeles.

Named the Hughes Fire, it is the latest in a series of wildfires ravaging the drought-stricken region. The blaze is centered near Lake Castaic, approximately 65 kilometers from the ongoing Eaton and Palisades fires, which have been burning for three consecutive weeks.

Initially reported at under 1 square kilometer, the fire quickly expanded to 20 square kilometers, driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, before growing further to 39 square kilometers, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

“This fire had a robust response today, and as you can see behind us, the responders are doing great work to try to contain this fire,” said Joe Tyler, director of Cal Fire. “Certainly, we are not out of the woods yet.”

Wind speeds reached 67 kph on Wednesday afternoon, with gusts expected to increase to 96 kph overnight and into Thursday, the National Weather Service reported.

Evacuations and Local Response

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed that 31,000 residents were ordered to evacuate, with an additional 23,000 under evacuation warnings.

Kayla Amara, a resident who went to a friend’s home in Castaic to retrieve belongings, took matters into her own hands, using a garden hose to wet down the property. “I hope there's a house here to return to,” she said, as flames loomed in the distance and police cars raced through the streets.

Fire Threats Continue

Firefighters and residents across Southern California had been bracing for new wildfires, driven by strong dry winds. While rain is forecast for Saturday, meteorologists warn that it will likely be insufficient to extinguish the fires, with only 0.8 centimeters of rain expected in most areas.

The National Weather Service predicts hazardous fire conditions to persist through Thursday or Friday. Cal Fire spokesperson David Acuna expressed concern that containment lines for the Eaton and Palisades fires could be breached due to worsening weather conditions.

The prospect of thunderstorms has raised additional fears of mudslides, with scorched hillsides vulnerable to debris flows.

Mitigation Measures

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced an executive order aimed at preventing toxic debris runoff from fire-damaged areas into the region’s waterways. “This is to prevent additional damage to areas already ravaged by fire and also to protect our watershed, beaches, and ocean from toxic runoff,” she said.

City crews will work to remove hazardous materials and install barriers to redirect debris into the sewer system. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has also approved emergency measures to expedite the installation of flood control infrastructure and sediment removal in burned areas.

Residents are urged to prepare for sudden evacuations, assemble emergency kits, and take precautions to protect themselves from ash containing heavy metals, arsenic, and other harmful substances, according to L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

Devastating Toll

Since January 7, wildfires in Southern California have claimed at least 28 lives and destroyed thousands of buildings. Officials warn that the death toll could rise as emergency crews continue their search through the debris.

President Donald Trump, who has criticized the response to the fires, is expected to visit Los Angeles later this week.