California wildfire triggers evacuations amid fierce winds
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The Hughes fire broke out north of Los Angeles late Wednesday morning, while the Eaton and Palisades fires continue burning for their third week.
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Firefighter Chris Fritz works to keep the Aero fire from spreading through the Copperopolis community of Calaveras Country, Calif, on Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP)
Additional evacuation orders were issued for residents near a rapidly advancing wildfire north of Los Angeles, as southern California faced another bout of dangerous winds ahead of potential weekend rain.
The Hughes fire, which ignited late Wednesday morning, quickly scorched over 9,400 acres (3,760 ha), producing a massive column of dark smoke near Castaic Lake, a well-known recreational spot roughly 40 miles (64 km) from the Eaton and Palisades fires, now burning for a third week.
"About 31,000 people were under mandatory evacuation orders, with more under evacuation warnings," Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced during a press conference.
Sections of Interstate 5, a key north-south route, were temporarily shut down as flames tore across hilltops and into rugged canyons. Ground crews and water-dropping aircraft worked urgently to stop the fire, driven by strong winds, from advancing south toward more densely populated foothill areas in Castaic, a community of about 19,000 residents.
Schools and jail complex affected as Hughes fire spreads
At least three schools were evacuated as a precautionary measure, according to the California Highway Patrol. The Angeles National Forest announced the closure of its entire 700,000-acre park in the San Gabriel Mountains to visitors. More than 4,000 firefighters have been deployed to combat the Hughes fire, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone stated.
The fire was burning north of a large county jail complex. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported relocating 476 incarcerated individuals from the Pitchess Detention Center to the neighboring North County Correctional Facility.
The ACLU of Southern California called on the county to evacuate the jail complex, which lies within a mandatory evacuation zone and comprises four facilities housing over 4,700 individuals, including 1,200 with diagnosed mental health conditions, based on last year’s data.
"I am really scared. I would assume a mandatory evacuation zone means the fire department believes everybody needs to leave to preserve their lives," said Melissa Camacho, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Southern California. She expressed concern about overcrowding at the facility receiving transferred inmates and questioned whether there were sufficient buses to handle thousands of rapid evacuations. "They need to be moving people out now," she urged.
A spokesperson for the sheriff’s department did not immediately address whether mass evacuations were being considered.
Wildfires continue to devastate Southern California
Authorities encouraged residents to review their evacuation plans, prepare emergency kits, and remain vigilant, reporting any new fires promptly.
Mayor Karen Bass cautioned that strong winds could carry ash and advised Angelenos to visit the city’s website for guidance on protecting themselves from toxic air during the ongoing Santa Ana wind event.
Low humidity, parched vegetation, and powerful winds have worsened conditions as firefighters continue to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires. These fires, which ignited on January 7, have claimed at least 28 lives and destroyed over 14,000 structures. Containment efforts have progressed, with the Palisades fire at 68% and the Eaton fire at 91%.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the origins of the fires, though no findings have been released yet.
Meanwhile, several lawsuits have been filed against Southern California Edison, alleging that the utility's equipment sparked the Eaton fire. On Tuesday, a judge presiding over one of the lawsuits ordered the company to provide data from circuits near the fire's ignition point.
People are also questioning why some residents of Altadena, where most of the fatalities occurred, were late to receive evacuation warnings.
US President Donald Trump, who criticized the wildfire response during his inaugural address on Monday, announced plans to visit Los Angeles on Friday.
