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California wildfires: New blaze prompts evacuations in San Diego County

Jan 21, 2025 08:35 PM IST

California wildfires: Evacuation orders were issued for the Lilac Fire, which had burned about 50 acres (20 hectares)

California wildfires: Two new wildfires broke in San Diego County in Southern California as powerful Santa Ana winds picked up pace on Tuesday.

A firefighter battles the Lilac Fire near the Bonsall community of San Diego County, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.(AP)
A firefighter battles the Lilac Fire near the Bonsall community of San Diego County, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.(AP)

Evacuation orders were issued for the Lilac Fire, which had burned about 50 acres (20 hectares), according to the Associated Press.

The fire was growing “with a moderate rate of spread and structures are threatened,” the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection posted.

Firefighters also made progress on the Pala Fire and it was reported as stopped, the agency said.

Also Read | Firefighters stop looters from stealing Emmy Award amid Los Angeles wildfires: ‘You're not doing this’

The weather service has issued a warning of a “ particularly dangerous situation ” for parts of Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego counties from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning due to low humidity and damaging Santa Ana winds.

A firefighter pulls a hose while trying to keep the Lilac Fire from spreading near the Bonsall community of San Diego County, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)(AP)
A firefighter pulls a hose while trying to keep the Lilac Fire from spreading near the Bonsall community of San Diego County, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)(AP)

“The conditions are ripe for explosive fire growth should a fire start,” Andrew Rorke, a meteorologist with the weather service in Oxnard, told AP.

The fresh threat comes two weeks after two major blazes, which are still burning in the Los Angeles area, killed at least 27 people and destroyed more than 10,000 structures in the residential enclaves of Pacific Palisades and Altadena in Los Angeles.

Also Read | LA wildfires: From Gurdwaras, Churches to Buddhist temples, faith communities join hands to aid fire victims

David Acuna, a spokesman with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said the biggest concerns are the Palisades and Eaton Fires breaking their containment lines and a new blaze starting.

“Don’t do things to start another fire so we can focus on the mitigation of the current fires,” Acuna said.

Kamala Harris visits Los Angeles

Former US Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff flew to Los Angeles on Monday after attending the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

They met with firefighters, volunteers and victims of the Eaton Fire in Altadena.

“We just came out to thank (firefighters), to thank the community and just remind folks that we're all in this together,” Harris said, according to AP. She added that their home in Pacific Palisades was still standing.

Meanwhile, Trump, who criticized the response to the wildfires during his inaugural address, has said he will travel to Los Angeles on Friday.

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