On Wednesday, a massive wildfire broke out in the rugged mountains north of Los Angeles, forcing nearly 20,000 residents to evacuate as Southern California endured another round of dangerous winds. The Hughes Fire, fueled by parched vegetation and gusty Santa Ana winds, rapidly burned nearly 21 square kilometers of trees and brush near Lake Castaic, a popular recreational area.
This fire, the most recent of a series of wildfires to strike the area, comes on the heels of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that have been burning for more than 3 weeks.
Evacuations and Road Closures
With the wildfire spreading very quickly, mandatory evacuations have been issued for 19,000 residents in the Castaic region and another 15,000 residents advised to have their homes ready for evacuation at a moment’s notice, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported. Flames swept across ridges and forested canyons, leading to the temporary shut-down of a 48 km portion of Interstate 5, a major north-south route.
Firefighters on the ground, backed by airborne water-dropping aircraft, fought hard to keep the fire contained so it would not move across the interstate and go into Castaic’s residential neighborhoods.
Residents Scramble to Protect Homes
Kayla Amara, a nurse from nearby Valencia, rushed to a friend’s house in Castaic’s Stonegate neighborhood to retrieve belongings as the fire approached. “I hope there’s a house here to return to,” Amara said while hosing down the property, joining other residents trying to protect their homes.
Amara, who had already been on edge due to the ongoing fires in Southern California, described the situation as “super stressful.”.
Preparedness Amid Dangerous Weather
Gusty winds were predicted to continue to Wednesday, and the National Weather Service has predicted that wet weather might begin to onset Saturday. LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger cautioned against potential mud and debris flow in fire impacted zone, and urged residents to plan for further complications.
Fire crews filled sandbags, and county workers installed barriers and cleared drainage systems to mitigate the risk of flooding and debris flows.
Toxic Air and Health Warnings
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned residents of ash and toxic air spread by the Santa Ana winds. LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer noted the risks associated with intake of ash which may contain the heavy metals, arsenic, and other toxic substances.
A short exposure can result in skin irritation and in more serious consequences, ” Ferrer cautioned, recommending protective gear during ash cleanup.
Progress in Fighting Palisades and Eaton Fires
As crews fought the Hughes Fire, containment work still went on for the Palisades and Eaton fires, both of which have resulted in 28 deaths and more than 14,000 structures destroyed so far since they started burning on January 7. Containment has now gone to 68% for the Palisades Fire and 91% for the Eaton Fire.
Red flag warnings for high critical fire danger still held for Los Angeles and Ventura counties until 8 pm Thursday, when officials cautioned that winds ongoing could rekindle hot spots and compromise containment lines.
Community Resilience Amid Tragedy
Southern California now midst the burn aftermath of weeks of intense wildfires is contending with the threat of encroaching flames and mudslides. Despite all these hurdles, firefighters, emergency personnel, and municipal authorities are persisting to save life, and property.
In the midst of approaching rain, and dealing with the burn scar of these wildfires, it is paramount that residents stay alert, honor any evacuation warnings and keep their safety as a top consideration.
(Input from AP)
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