Evacuation orders have been issued as a new, fast-moving wildfire threatens remote communities north of LA
Evacuations were ordered for remote communities near a new fast-moving wildfire in the mountains north of Los Angeles on Wednesday as Southern California weathered another round of dangerous winds ahead of possible rain over the weekend.
The Hughes fire started in the late morning and quickly ripped through nearly nine square kilometers of trees and brush, sending a large plume of dark smoke near Castaic Lake, about 40 miles north of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, for the third week. .
The ramps on Interstate 5, a major north-south artery, were closed as the flames moved along hilltops and into rugged canyons. The groups attacked the wind-driven flames on the ground and in water-dropping planes.
Meanwhile, to the south, LA officials were bracing for potential rain, though some residents were allowed to return to the charred Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas. The severe weather is expected to continue until Thursday.
“We’re going to see the next round of critical fire conditions in Southern California,” National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall said Wednesday morning. “At this point, it sounds like a broken record.”
LA Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to speed up cleanup efforts in burn areas and reduce the environmental impact of fire-related pollutants. He ordered crews to remove vegetation, shore up slopes and reinforce roads ahead of possible rain.
LA County supervisors also approved immediate action to install flood control infrastructure and expedite and remove sediment in fire-affected areas.
“As the fires go out, there are new challenges ahead,” Superintendent Kathryn Barger said at a news conference Wednesday. “Rain is forecast and the threat of mud and debris flows in our fire-affected communities is real.”
According to LA meteorologist Ryan Kittell, there was a 60 to 80 percent chance of light rain for Southern California starting Saturday, with most areas not exceeding about 0.8 inches. Local thunderstorms could drop about 2.5 centimeters, which would be the worst-case scenario if enough. falls on burnt slopes.
“But even if the rain doesn’t happen this time, it could be a good lesson for those communities because it’s going to be a threat they’re going to have to deal with for months or years,” Kittell said Tuesday.
Fire crews were filling sandbags for communities, county workers were installing barriers, clearing drain pipes and basins.
In 2018, the town of Montecito, located about 130 kilometers up the coast from Los Angeles, was devastated by torrential rains, with mountainsides scorched by a massive wildfire. Twenty-three people were killed and hundreds of houses were damaged.
Red flag warnings for critical fire risk have been extended for LA and Ventura counties until 8 p.m. Thursday. Officials are concerned the two large fires, the Palisades and Eaton fires, could breach containment lines as firefighters continue to monitor hot spots, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman David Acuna said.
Strategically placed fire engines and water jets allowed crews to quickly extinguish several small fires in Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside counties.
Officials urged residents to review evacuation plans, prepare first aid kits, be alert for fires and report quickly.
Many Los Angeles residents are now waiting to return to what is left of their homes. But even for those whose homes are not protected, health issues around smoke and ash will remain.
Bass also warned that winds could carry ash and advised Angelenos to visit the city’s website to learn how to protect themselves from toxic air during the recent Santa Ana wind event. LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer warned that the ash may contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful materials.
“Even short-term exposure can potentially cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems,” Ferrer said Wednesday, asking people to wear protective gear while cleaning.
Low humidity, bone-dry vegetation and strong winds have kept firefighters battling the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out on Jan. 7. 68 percent, and the Eaton Fire was 91 percent.
Frustration has mounted for tens of thousands of people under evacuation orders more than a week into the wildfire crisis in Los Angeles. Authorities say it could be at least a week before they are allowed to inspect their homes.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday that his department is still investigating reports of 22 active missing persons in both fire zones. According to him, all the missing persons are adults.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the cause of the fires, but has not released any results.
Several lawsuits have been filed by people who lost their homes in the Eaton fire, alleging that Southern California Edison’s equipment caused the fire. On Tuesday, a judge overseeing one of the lawsuits ordered the utility to release data from circuits in the area where the fire started.
US President Donald Trump, who criticized the response to the wildfires during his inauguration speech on Monday, said he would travel to Los Angeles on Friday. Details of Trump’s visit are still being worked out, Barger said Wednesday.
English