Another fast-moving wildfire has broken out in Los Angeles County, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate from an area that has been struggling for weeks with some of the worst fires in its history, the BBC reported.
The Hughes Fire started on Wednesday morning, about 45 miles northwest of Los Angeles, near Castaic Lake. The fire quickly spread to over 10,000 acres, fueled by dry brush and strong winds. No homes or businesses have been damaged so far, according to reports, and officials remain optimistic about being able to contain the blaze.
The new fire is located north of two massive wildfires that have already destroyed numerous neighborhoods this month. Residents near the Hughes Fire were seen trying to protect their homes by spraying water on them, while others rushed to evacuate. Aircraft dropped water and flame retardant to help contain the blaze.
The region remains under a red flag warning through Thursday, indicating a high fire risk due to dry, windy conditions. Winds in the area are blowing at around 20-30 mph, with the possibility of picking up, which could make the fire harder to control and complicate aerial firefighting efforts.
Around 31,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders, while another 23,000 have been warned they might need to leave. Nearly 500 inmates from a local jail are also being evacuated. Inmates have been deployed elsewhere to help contain the fires.
Meanwhile, two smaller fires ignited south of Los Angeles near San Diego and Oceanside. The Lilac Fire, which burned 85 acres, has now been fully contained, and evacuation orders in the area have mostly been lifted.
Officials warned that the ongoing dry conditions and strong winds are making these fires particularly difficult to control.
Rain is expected over the weekend, which could help reduce the fire risk, but it also brings new concerns about mudslides and flooding, especially in areas recently affected by fire. Burned land is less absorbent, increasing the risk of dangerous runoff.