Los Angeles wildfires : New ‘Hughes Fire’ forces evacuation orders for 50,000 people
Los Angeles wildfires : Southern California faces dangerous winds but may receive much-needed rain this weekend, potentially preventing wildfires. Mayor Karen Bass has ordered cleanup to prevent toxic runoff from the rain. Despite a forecast of light rain, residents are urged to prepare for fire risks amid ongoing blazes.
Hughes Fire: The new blaze burning near Lake Castaic has so far burned down 9,400 acres of land, as per CAL Fire data.
Days after rapidly moving wildfires left behind a trail of massive destruction in Los Angeles, California, a new ‘Hughes Fire’ has prompted evacuation orders or warnings for more than 50,000 people in the US state.
The new blaze broke out late Wednesday morning and has burned down 9,400 acres of land and is under zero per cent containment, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire)
Plumes of dark smoke were seen near Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area in the northwestern neighbourhood of Los Angeles, located about 40 kilometres from the destructive Eaton and Palisades fire that continue to be burning for the third week now.
Data from CAL Fire showed that the Palisades fire, which has charred 23,448 acres of land to date, is under 68 percent containment. The Eaton fire, meanwhile, is under 91 per cent containment after burning down 14,021 acres.
Additionally, the Lilac Fire in San Diego is under 95 per cent containment, while 45 per cent of the Clay Fire in Riverside has been brought under control.
According to the data provided by CAL Fire, there is another blaze, ‘Center Fire’ in San Diego county. The date mentioned in the data is the same as Hughes Fire, Wednesday, January 22. The fire has charred 4 acres of land till now.
Meanwhile, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said that more than 31,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, while another 23,000 are under evacuation warnings.
LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said that the fire remains difficult to contain, however, firefighters are having the upper hand in the battle.
California wind forecast
The National Weather Service, however, said that winds in the area, which were currently gusting at 42 mph, were expected to increase to 60 mph by late evening and Thursday.
“Gusty offshore winds and low humidity will result in persistent critical fire weather conditions for portions of Southern California through Thursday,” the NWS said in a post on X.
It further added that while the risk of wildfire throughout this period “will be high”, conditions will be “increasingly dangerous tonight (Wednesday) into Thursday when winds speeds and gusts approaching 70 mph are possible”.
More than 50,000 people were under evacuation orders or warnings on Wednesday as a massive, fast-moving wildfire tore through the rugged mountains north of Los Angeles. Southern California was enduring another round of dangerous winds while two major fires continued to burn.
More than 31,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, and another 23,000 are under evacuation warnings, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
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.
A 30-mile (48-kilometer) section of the key north-south highway was closed to allow space for emergency vehicles and equipment. Ground crews and water-dropping aircraft worked to stop the wind-driven fire from crossing the interstate and advancing toward Castaic.
With Thanks and Reference to:https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/los-angeles-wildfires-hughes-fire-forces-evacuation-orders-residents-california-firefighters-san-diego-101737596528843.html and https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/southern-california-braces-for-new-wildfires-due-to-strong-winds-lilac-fire-sparks-evacuations-11737470190492.html
