The Hughes fire broke out near the Lake Castaic area of northern Los Angeles County, two weeks after blazes that claimed at least 28 lives and devastated the city broke out.
The Hughes fire broke out near the Lake Castaic area of northern Los Angeles County, two weeks after blazes that claimed at least 28 lives and devastated the city broke out.
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By Christopher Weber
Updated January 23, 2025 — 10.31amfirst published at 7.24am
Los Angeles: Nearly 20,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as a huge and fast-moving fire swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles, as parched Southern California endured another round of dangerous winds and two major previous blazes continued to smolder.
It comes two weeks after the deadly blazes first ignited, ripping through Los Angeles, killing at least 28 people and destroying 14,000 homes and businesses.
The Hughes fire broke out on Thursday (AEDT) in the mountains near the Lake Castaic area of northern Los Angeles County. The fire quickly burnt through 21 square kilometres of dry brush and sent up a huge plume of dark smoke.
The parched region endured dangerous winds the day before but could also get some needed rain this weekend.
Los Angeles officials were preparing for potential precipitation, as some residents were allowed to return to the charred Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas, and firefighters extinguished small blazes that broke out during gusty weather expected to last another day.
“We’re going to see another round of critical fire conditions across Southern California,” Todd Hall, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said. “At this point, it sounds like a broken record.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to expedite clean-up efforts in burnt areas and mitigate the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants. She ordered crews to remove vegetation, shore up hillsides and reinforce roads ahead of the possible rain.
Los Angeles County supervisors also approved an emergency motion to install flood control infrastructure and expedite and remove sediment in fire-impacted areas.
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“As the fires have settled, new challenges lie ahead,” supervisor Kathryn Barger said earlier. “Rains are in the forecast, and the threat of mud and debris flow in our fire-impacted communities is real.”
A 60 to 80 per cent chance of a small amount of rain was forecast for Southern California starting on Saturday, with most areas likely getting not more than 3 millimetres, according to Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist for the weather service’s LA office. However, up to 25mm could fall in localised thunderstorms.
“But even if the rain doesn’t materialise this time, it could be a good practice run for those communities because this will be a threat that they’ll have to deal with for months or years,” Kittell said.
Fire crews were filling sandbags while county workers were installing barriers and clearing drainage pipes and basins.
In 2018, Montecito, a town 130 kilometres up the coast from Los Angeles, was ravaged by mudslides after a downpour hit mountain slopes burnt bare by a huge fire. Twenty-three people died, and hundreds of homes were damaged.
Red flag warnings for critical fire risk were extended until 8pm on Thursday (Friday AEDT) in LA and Ventura counties. Officials remained concerned that the two major blazes, the Palisades and Eaton fires, could break their containment lines as firefighters continue to watch for hot spots, said David Acuna, a spokesman with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
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Fire engines and water-dropping aircraft positioned strategically allowed crews to swiftly douse several small blazes that popped up in LA, San Diego and Riverside counties, officials said.
Authorities urged residents to review evacuation plans, prepare emergency kits, and be on the lookout for fires and report them quickly.
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 latest Santa Ana wind event. LA County public health director Barbara Ferrer cautioned the ash could contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful materials.
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“Even a brief exposure can potentially cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems,” Ferrer said, asking people to wear protective gear while cleaning up.
The low humidity, bone-dry vegetation and strong winds came as firefighters continued to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires since they broke out on January 7. Containment of the Palisades Fire has reached 68 per cent, and the Eaton Fire is at 91 per cent.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said his department was still investigating 22 active missing person reports in both fire zones. All of those reported missing were adults, he said.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the causes 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 utility company Southern California Edison’s equipment sparked the blaze. On Tuesday, a judge overseeing one of the lawsuits ordered the company to produce data from circuits in the area where the fire started.
President Donald Trump, who criticised the response to the fires during his inaugural address this week, has said he will travel to Los Angeles on Friday.
AP
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