California’s largest fires continue to rage as new blaze forces evacuations

A new, rapidly spreading wildfire erupted in Los Angeles County on January 22 morning, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate a region still grappling with the devastating aftermath of the state’s most destructive fires in history.

The Hughes Fire ignited around 45 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, near Castaic Lake, a mountainous area that borders residential neighbourhoods and schools, Caliber.Az reports referring to UK media.

Though the fire has not yet caused damage to homes or businesses, local authorities remain on high alert. Fire officials expressed cautious optimism, saying they believe the blaze can eventually be contained despite its rapid spread.

This new fire comes just weeks after two massive wildfires ravaged parts of Los Angeles County, destroying entire neighbourhoods earlier this month.

As the fire intensified, residents in the affected areas were seen taking protective measures, with many hosing down their properties in an attempt to prevent ember damage, while others frantically evacuated. Footage from the scene showed orange flames licking the edges of mountains, while aircraft worked to drop water and flame retardant on the blaze.

The region remains under a red flag warning, signalling a high risk of fire spread due to strong winds and dry conditions. Winds in the area were blowing at speeds of 20 to 30 mph (32 to 48 km/h), with the possibility of gusts picking up, which would only exacerbate the fire and make it more difficult for aircrews to control the situation.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for approximately 31,000 residents, while another 23,000 people are on standby for potential evacuation. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed that nearly 500 inmates from a local jail are being evacuated as well.

At the time of reporting, the Hughes Fire had covered over 20 square kilometres of Los Angeles County, continuing to grow rapidly.

This fire follows on the heels of the catastrophic wildfires that began in the region on January 7, now recognized as the largest in California’s history. The wildfires have scorched over 16,000 hectares of land, claiming at least 25 lives. Meteorologists have pointed to dry, windy conditions as a major factor in the fires’ swift spread, creating an ongoing challenge for firefighting crews.

By Tamilla Hasanova