California on High Alert: A Fire North of Los Angeles Forces Thousands to Evacuate
To the north of Los Angeles, in a mountainous area of Ventura County, a wildfire declared on Thursday afternoon spread rapidly, engulfing more than six square kilometers in just five hours.
The fire, named Canyon, started around 1:30 p.m. and by the end of the day, it was still out of control, moving eastward. The blaze is located just south of Lake Piru, within the Los Padres National Forest, and very close to Castaic Lake, the scene of the Hughes fire in January, which burned about 39 square kilometers in just six hours and forced 50,000 people to evacuate.
Evacuations and Emergency Operations
In Los Angeles County, over 4,200 residents and 1,400 structures are under evacuation orders, while another 12,500 residents remain on alert for possible evacuations. In neighboring Ventura County, where the affected areas are less populated, 56 people were evacuated from Lake Piru recreational area.
Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Andrew Dowd described the situation as “very dynamic,” with the fire spreading rapidly due to high temperatures, low humidity, rugged terrain, and extremely dry vegetation. About 250 firefighters are working at the scene, supported by helicopters and other aerial resources.
Los Angeles County Superintendent Kathryn Barger issued an urgent plea to residents: “The heat and low humidity have created dangerous conditions where flames can spread at an alarming rate. If emergency crews tell you to leave, do so without hesitation.”
A Larger Second Fire in the State
As the Canyon fire expands in the south, central California is facing another massive wildfire: the Gifford. This fire, also in the Los Padres National Forest, is already the largest of the year in the state, with 399 square kilometers burned and only 15% contained.
The Gifford fire originated from at least four smaller hotspots near State Route 166, leading to traffic closures in both directions east of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 residents. So far, four people have been injured, and the cause remains under investigation.
Authorities warn that the risk of wildfires will increase over the weekend in much of inland California due to the heatwave affecting the region. August and September are historically the most dangerous months for wildfires in the state, where climate change and recurring droughts have intensified the magnitude and frequency of these disasters.
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