Around 4,000 firefighters and firefighting aircraft have been deployed to combat the flames. Fortunately, the wind is not as strong as it was two weeks ago.
A fast-moving wildfire erupted north of Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday, forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate. The blaze ignited near an area that has been battling two devastating fires for the past three weeks. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of more than 31,000 people, with an additional 23,000 under warning, according to the Associated Press.
Named the Hughes Fire, the blaze started in the late morning and rapidly spread across the hills near Castaic Lake, a popular recreational area. Within six hours, it scorched approximately 39 square kilometers of land.
Around 4,000 firefighters, supported by firefighting aircraft, have been deployed to contain the flames. According to local fire chief Anthony Marrone, this massive response is proving effective, as no homes or buildings have been reported damaged so far. Several sections of Interstate 5 have been temporarily closed.
“The situation remains dynamic, and the fire is still challenging to control, although we are gaining the upper hand,” Marrone said at a press conference, as reported by AFP. He added that firefighters would continue working through the night. Wind speeds reached up to 67 kilometers per hour on Wednesday and are expected to increase to 96 kilometers per hour by Thursday.
Windy conditions are expected to persist throughout Thursday, with possible rainfall in the area by Saturday. Authorities have warned residents to protect their skin, as the winds may carry toxic pollutants.
Meanwhile, two other fires—Palisades and Eaton—continue to burn south of the Hughes Fire, near Los Angeles. These fires have been raging since January 7, claiming at least 28 lives and destroying over 14,000 homes and structures.
