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Los Angeles wildfires: Hughes Fire has scorched over 39 square km in North LA

PTI | | Posted by Tuhin Das Mahapatra
Jan 23, 2025 07:36 AM IST

Over 50,000 people are under evacuation orders in Southern California due to a fast-moving wildfire near Los Angeles. 

More than 50,000 people were under evacuation orders or warnings on Wednesday after a huge and fast-moving wildfire swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles, as parched Southern California endured another round of dangerous winds and two major previous blazes continued to smolder.

A firefighting crew walks towards flames as a plume of smoke from the Hughes Fire fills the sky in Castaic, a northwestern part of Los Angeles, California, on January 22, 2025. Evacuations were ordered for 19,000 people all around the lake, which sits around 35 miles north of Los Angeles, and close to the city of Santa Clarita. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)(AFP)
A firefighting crew walks towards flames as a plume of smoke from the Hughes Fire fills the sky in Castaic, a northwestern part of Los Angeles, California, on January 22, 2025. Evacuations were ordered for 19,000 people all around the lake, which sits around 35 miles north of Los Angeles, and close to the city of Santa Clarita. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)(AFP)

The Hughes Fire broke out in the late morning and within hours charred more than 39 square km of trees and brush, sending up plumes of dark smoke near Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area about 64 km from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that are burning for a third week.

More than 31,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, and another 23,000 are under evacuation warnings, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said.

ALSO READ| Los Angeles wildfires: New ‘Hughes Fire’ forces evacuation orders for 50,000 people

LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said the fire remains difficult to contain but firefighters are getting the upper hand.

Parts of Interstate 5 that had been closed will shortly be reopened, Luna said.

LA wildfire forces closure of 48 km stretch of interstate 5

A 48 km stretch of Interstate 5, a major north-south artery, was closed as flames raced along hilltops and down into wooded canyons. Crews on the ground and in water-dropping aircraft tried to prevent the wind-driven fire from moving across the interstate and toward Castaic.

Winds in the area were gusting at 67 kph in the afternoon but were expected to increase to 96 kph by later in the evening and Thursday, the National Weather Service said on X.

Kayla Amara drove to Castaic's Stonegate neighborhood to collect items from the home of a friend who had rushed to pick up her daughter at preschool. As Amara was packing the car, she learned the fire had exploded in size and decided to hose down the property.

"Other people are hosing down their houses, too. I hope there's a house here to return to," Amara said as police cars raced through the streets and flames engulfed trees on a hillside in the distance.

Amara, a nurse who lives in nearby Valencia, said she's been on edge for weeks as major blazes devastated Southern California.

"It's been stressful with those other fires, but now that this one is close to home it's just super stressful," she said.

ALSO READ| 20,000 ordered to evacuate as fast-moving wildfire imperils homes north of Los Angeles

To the south, Los Angeles officials began to prepare for potential rain even as some residents were allowed to return to the charred Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas.

Gusty weather was expected to last through Thursday and precipitation was possible starting Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

"Rains are in the forecast and the threat of mud and debris flow in our fire-impacted communities is real," Supervisor Kathryn Barger said during a Wednesday morning news conference.

Southern California braces for mudslide threats as fire crews battle Palisades and Eaton Blazes

Fire crews were filling sandbags for communities while county workers installed barriers and cleared drainage pipes and basins.

Red flag warnings for critical fire risk were extended through 10 a.m. Friday in LA and Ventura counties. Officials remained concerned that the Palisades and Eaton fires could break their containment lines as firefighters continue watching for hot spots.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned that winds could carry ash and advised Angelenos to visit the city's website to learn how to protect themselves from toxic air during the latest Santa Ana wind event. LA County public health director Barbara Ferrer cautioned that the ash could contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful materials.

"Even a brief exposure can potentially cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems," Ferrer said on Wednesday, asking people to wear protective gear while cleaning up.

The low humidity, bone-dry vegetation and strong winds came as firefighters continued battling the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out January 7.

Containment of the Palisades Fire reached 68 per cent, and the Eaton Fire was at 91 per cent.

ALSO READ| Friars fire near San Diego mall forces evacuations as California's wildfire nightmare continues

Luna said on Wednesday that his department was still investigating 22 active missing person reports in both fire zones. All of those reported missing are adults, he said.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the causes of the fires but has not released any findings.

Several lawsuits have been filed by people who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, alleging Southern California Edison's equipment sparked the blaze. On Tuesday, a judge overseeing one of the lawsuits ordered the utility to produce data from circuits in the area where the fire started.

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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
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