Evacuations ordered as new, fast-moving wildfire threatens remote communities north of Los Angeles
Evacuations were ordered Wednesday for remote communities near a new fast-moving wildfire in the mountains north of Los Angeles, as dangerous winds are expected again in Southern California ahead of possible rain over the weekend.
The Hughes fire broke out late in the morning and quickly tore through about nine square kilometers of trees and brush, sending a huge plume of dark smoke near Castaic Lake, about 40 miles north of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, which are now in their third week.
Off ramps along Interstate 5, the main north-south artery, were closed as flames raced over hilltops and down into rugged canyons.Crews on the ground and in watercraft attacked the wind-driven fire.
Meanwhile, to the south, Los Angeles officials braced for possible rain, even as some residents were allowed to return to charred Pacific Palisades and Altadena counties, with stormy weather expected to last through Thursday.
“We're going to see another round of Critical Fire conditions in Southern California,” National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall said Wednesday morning. “It looks like a broken record at this point.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to speed up the cleanup of burned areas and mitigate the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants.
Los Angeles County supervisors also approved an emergency motion to install flood control infrastructure and expedite and remove sediment in fire-affected areas.
“As the fires have been extinguished, new challenges lie ahead,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said at a news conference Wednesday.
A 60 to 80 percent chance of light rain is forecast for Southern California starting Saturday, with most areas likely to receive no more than 0.8 inches, according to Los Angeles Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Kittel. 5 centimeters, which would be the worst case scenario if enough fell on the burned slopes;
“But even if the rain doesn't happen this time, it might be good practice for those communities because it's going to be a threat they're going to have to deal with for months or years,” Kittel said Tuesday.
Firefighters filled sandbags for communities while county workers installed barriers and cleaned drains and basins.
In 2018, the town of Montecito, about 130 kilometers up the coast from Los Angeles, was devastated by mudslides after rain hit the slopes of the mountains, which burned in a massive wildfire, killing 23 people and damaging hundreds of homes.
Red flag warnings of critical fire danger were extended until 8 p.m. Thursday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, as officials continued to worry that the two largest fires, the Palisades and Eaton, could breach their containment lines as firefighters continued to monitor hot points, said David of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. Akuna.
Strategically placed fire trucks and water jets allowed crews to quickly extinguish several small fires that broke out in Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside counties, officials said.
Authorities urged residents to review evacuation plans, prepare emergency kits and watch for fires and report them quickly.
Many Los Angeles residents are now waiting to return to what's left of their homes, but even for those whose homes were spared, health concerns about smoke and ash will continue.
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. Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer warned that ash could contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful substances.
“Even short-term exposure can cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems,” Ferrer said Wednesday, urging people to wear protective gear when cleaning.
The low humidity, bone-dry vegetation and high winds came as firefighters continued to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since Jan. 7. The Eaton Fire was 91 percent.
More than a week into the wildfire crisis in Los Angeles, frustration has grown for tens of thousands of people under evacuation orders as officials tell them it could be at least another week before they are allowed to check their homes.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday that his department is still investigating 22 active missing person reports in the two fire zones.All of the missing are adults, he said.
The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the cause of the fires, but has not released any findings.
Several lawsuits have been filed by people who lost their homes in the Eaton fire, alleging that Southern California Edison equipment started the fire. On Tuesday, a judge overseeing one of the lawsuits ordered the utility to produce data from circuits in the county where it started. the fire
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. Barger said Wednesday that details of Trump's visit are still being worked out.
