Thousands under evacuation in Southern California as officials warn of fire threat
fire threat remains critical in Southern California, where thousands of residents were under evacuation orders Wednesday as fire crews battled the out-of-control Hughes Fire near Castaic, a suburb in the foothills and mountains of northern Los Angeles County.
The fire – impacting both Los Angeles and Ventura counties – had burned more than 10,000 acres and is 14% contained as of Wednesday night, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. No structures have been reported damaged or destroyed, Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said at a Wednesday evening news conference.
The unincorporated community of Castaic is about 15 miles northwest of the city of Santa Clarita and borders the Angeles National Forest. Approximately 31,000 residents in the area are under evacuation orders, while 23,000 are under evacuation warnings, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna
“We have over 4,000 firefighting personnel assigned to the incident,” Marrone said, noting the “robust” ground and air response to the fire. “The situation remains dynamic and the fire remains a difficult fire to contain, although we are getting the upper hand,” Marrone added.
The Hughes Fire started just before 11 a.m. Wednesday near Castaic Lake, north of where fire crews are working to fully contain the Palisadesand Eaton Fires that have scorched more than 40,000 acres and left at least 28 dead since they began January 7.
The fire is “a completely different beast” to the Palisades and Eaton Fires, LA County Fire Capt. Sheila Kelliher told CNN’s Laura Coates Thursday. Two weeks ago, firefighters faced extreme challenges as powerful winds grounded aerial support.
Current conditions are more favorable, with calmer winds allowing the fire department’s helicopters to carry out water drops throughout the night, Kelliher said.
When asked about potential water supply issues, Kelliher said that today’s crews are fortunate to have direct access to Castaic Lake and other nearby reservoirs for their firefighting efforts.
Robert Garcia, Angeles National Forest fire chief, said Wednesday, “The conditions that we’re under aren’t as severe as what we’ve been facing over the last week or two, but what you saw (Wednesday) is indicative of the conditions that we’re in, in terms of the vegetation.”
The area where the fire is burning is known for its dry, grassy hills, fire officials added, making the fire conditions there “critical,” according to Garcia.
“Certainly, we are not out of the woods yet,” said Cal Fire Chief Joe Tyler on Wednesday. Evacuees should follow the directions of local law enforcement and first responders as they are asked to evacuate the area, Tyler noted.
The National Weather Service extended a red flag warning through Friday morning for most of Los Angeles and Ventura counties as Santa Ana winds continue to move through the area, Marrone said.
The winds are expected to intensify across Southern California, peaking late Wednesday into early Thursday. While forecasts indicate a decrease in strength by Thursday afternoon, conditions will still be strong enough to sustain fire weather concerns through Friday morning.
Cc: CNN