Mass Evacuations Underway as New California Wildfire Burns over 10,000 Acres
A new series of wildfires broke out in California this week amid ongoing severe weather conditions, including hurricane-force winds, low humidity, and drought conditions. As reported by USA Today, the Hughes fire erupted near Castaic Lake, a reservoir approximately 45 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The blaze quickly consumed 10,000 acres and is only about 14 percent contained. Thousands of people in the area were forced to flee their homes, and schools were closed.
Over in Ventura Country, an evacuation order was issued for California State University Channel Islands and University Glen due to the Laguna Fire, which began Thursday.
On Tuesday, Sepulveda Fire erupted in Los Angeles but has since been contained at 45 acres early Thursday morning, UPI reported.
"The fire was primarily topography-driven but it had the Santa Ana winds pushing it up that hill. We were very, very fortunate to have the aircraft from the Palisades Fire available to us as well as additional fire resources that we had pre-deployed respond quickly and put this fire into an area that confined it to 45 acres," L.A. Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore said.
CAL Fire has been providing updates concerning each fire, including acres burned and levels of containment.
The Palisades and Eaton Fires, which broke out earlier this month, are at 72 percent and 95 percent containment and have burned 23,448 acres and 14,021, respectively.
The total death toll from the wildfires currently stands at 28 people, with 50,683 acres burned.
The California National Guard announced on social media Wednesday evening that MAFFS (Modular Aerial Firefighting System) aircraft have been deployed to combat the Hughes fires.
"Together, they're delivering massive drops of fire retardant to protect lives, property, and communities," The Cal Guard stated on X.
🔥 HAPPENING NOW: Every MAFFS (Modular Aerial Firefighting System) aircraft in the U.S.—all 8, including 2 from your Cal Guard—has been launched to fight the fast-growing #HughesFire . The Cal Guard’s MAFFS are based at the 146th Airlift Wing, Channel Islands Air National Guard… pic.twitter.com/udK1ZIWB3g
— The California National Guard (@TheCalGuard) January 23, 2025
According to CBS News, The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for a majority of Los Angeles and Ventura counties due to gusty winds and low humidity, increasing the risk of wildfires.
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Fox 32 Chicago
Originally published January 23, 2025.
