New wildfire in LA spreads over 5,000 acres, evacuations ordered
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Los Angeles: A fast-moving wildfire in Los Angeles County, known as the Hughes Fire, has rapidly spread over 39 square kilometers (around 9,637 acres) since its outbreak on Wednesday morning. The fire, fueled by dry vegetation and gusty Santa Ana winds, continues to grow, prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders for over 50,000 residents in the affected areas.
The Hughes Fire, which started near Lake Hughes Road close to Castaic Lake, has forced more than 31,000 people to evacuate, with another 23,000 under evacuation warnings. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna has urged residents in the impacted areas to leave immediately, emphasizing the dangers posed by the rapidly spreading blaze.
Firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest are working around the clock, with aerial support from helicopters and water-dropping planes. Despite efforts to contain the blaze, authorities remain concerned about the fire's progress due to high winds and low humidity, which have made containment challenging.
Robert Jensen of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department urged residents in the affected areas of the Hughes Fire to evacuate immediately. "We’ve seen the devastation caused by people failing to follow evacuation orders in the Palisades and Eaton fires. Please leave the area if you’ve been instructed to do so," he said.
This wildfire is part of an ongoing crisis in Southern California, which has seen devastating fires this month. The Palisades and Eaton fires, which began earlier in January, have already claimed 28 lives and destroyed thousands of homes. Although these fires are nearing containment at 68% and 91%, respectively, many residents in the affected areas are still displaced.
Evacuation orders have also impacted key transportation routes, including a 48-kilometer stretch of Interstate 5, which was closed as the fire neared the freeway. Fire crews have been working tirelessly to protect the highway and prevent the blaze from spreading further.
The cause of the Hughes Fire is still under investigation, but it broke out under red flag conditions, with gusty winds and extremely low humidity. Authorities have warned that more fires could break out, as dangerous conditions are expected to persist.
The White House has expressed condolences for the lives lost in the region’s ongoing wildfire crisis, as the Los Angeles community braces for further challenges in the days to come.
With PTI inputs