Evacuations have been ordered as a new, fast-moving wildfire threatens communities far north of LA
Evacuations were ordered Wednesday in remote communities near a wildfire burning in the mountains north of Los Angeles, as Southern California endured another round of dangerous winds ahead of possible rain over the weekend.
The Hughes fire broke out early in the morning and quickly tore through nine acres of trees, spewing thick black smoke near Castaic Lake, about 40 miles north of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires burning for a third week. .
Side lanes of Interstate 5, the main north-south artery, were closed as flames raced over hilltops and down rugged canyons. Crews on the ground and in water-dropping aircraft attacked the wind-driven flames.
Meanwhile to the south, LA officials were bracing for possible rain as some residents were allowed to return to the burned areas of Pacific Palisades and Altadena. The bad weather was expected to continue until Thursday.
“We’re going to see another round of severe fire conditions across Southern California,” Todd Hall, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said Wednesday morning. “Right now, it feels like a broken record.”
LA Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to speed up efforts to clean up burned areas and reduce the environmental impacts of the fire’s pollutants. He ordered the workers to clear the vegetation, raise the hills and strengthen the roads before the rains.
LA County officials also approved an emergency proposal to install flood control infrastructure and expedite the removal of sediment from fire-affected areas.
“As the fires are stabilized, new challenges are ahead,” said Chief Kathryn Barger at a press conference Wednesday. “Rains are forecast and the threat of mudslides and debris flows to our affected communities is real.”
A 60 to 80 percent chance of light rain has been forecast for Southern California since Saturday, and most areas may get no more than 0.8 inches, according to Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist at the weather service’s office in LA. about 2.5 centimeters may be localized thunder, which can be a very serious situation if enough falls on the burned area. and slopes.
“But even if it rains at this time, it would be a good practice for those communities because this will be a danger that they will have to face for months or years,” said Kittell on Tuesday.
Firefighters were filling sandbags in communities while county crews were installing barriers and cleaning pipes and drains.
In 2018, Montecito, a town about 130 kilometers up the coast from Los Angeles, was destroyed by mud after rains hit a mountain that had been burned by a large wildfire. 23 people died, hundreds of homes were destroyed.
Red flag warnings for severe fire danger were extended at 8 p.m. Thursday for LA and Ventura counties. Officials remain concerned that the two largest flames, the Palisades and Eaton, may break their lines as firefighters continue to search for hot spots, said David Acuna, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
Fire engines and water-dropping planes were positioned to allow crews to quickly put out several blazes in LA, San Diego and Riverside counties, officials said.
Authorities urged residents to review evacuation plans, prepare emergency services, be aware of fires and report them immediately.
Many Los Angeles residents are now waiting to return to what is left of their homes. But even for those whose houses have been saved, health concerns from smoke and ash will continue.
Bass also warned that winds can carry ash and advised Angelenos to visit the city’s website to learn how to protect themselves from toxic air during Santa Ana’s recent wind event. LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer warned that the ash may contain heavy metals, arsenic and other hazardous substances.
“Even a brief exposure can cause skin irritation and lead to serious complications,” Ferrer said Wednesday, urging people to wear protective gear while cleaning.
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. Containment of the Palisades fire has been achieved. 68 percent, and 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. Officials tell them it may be another week before they are allowed to inspect their homes.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday his department is still investigating reports of 22 people missing from both fire areas. All those reported missing are adults, he said.
The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the cause of the fire, but has not yet released the results.
Several lawsuits have been filed against people who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, alleging that Southern California Edison equipment caused the fire. On Tuesday, the judge in charge of one of the cases ordered the company to release information from the circuits in the area where the fire started.
US President Donald Trump, who criticized the response to the wildfires during his inaugural address 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.
Source link
