Wildfire Near Los Angeles Triggers Mass Evacuations
A new wildfire broke out north of Los Angeles on Wednesday, forcing authorities to order the evacuation of thousands of people. The fire, which erupted near Castaic Lake, spread rapidly, consuming 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) within just two hours. The flames were fueled by powerful, dry Santa Ana winds, pushing a dense cloud of smoke and embers ahead of the fire.
Evacuations were issued for 19,000 residents around the lake, located about 35 miles north of Los Angeles, near Santa Clarita. One evacuee shared their fear, saying, “I’m just praying that our house doesn’t burn down,” while packing their belongings.
This new fire came on the heels of two massive wildfires in the area that had already claimed more than 20 lives and destroyed thousands of homes. Robert Jensen from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department urged residents to evacuate immediately, citing the severe consequences of failing to do so during previous fires. “We’ve seen the devastation caused by people failing to follow those orders,” he said.
Authorities were seen driving through neighborhoods, urging evacuations, and helicopters and planes were deployed to combat the blaze, dropping water and fire retardant. Ground crews from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest were also actively fighting the flames.
While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, it occurred under red flag fire conditions, where strong winds and low humidity create ideal conditions for fast-moving fires.
