California Wildfires Escalate: Thousands Evacuated as Canyon Fire Rages Near Los Angeles, Gifford Blaze Expands
California Wildfires Escalate: Thousands Evacuated as Canyon Fire Rages Near Los Angeles, Gifford Blaze Expands
California is currently battling a dual wildfire emergency as two major blazes, the Canyon Fire north of Los Angeles and the massive Gifford Fire in Central California, continue to spread rapidly, forcing thousands of evacuations and placing communities on high alert.
The Canyon Fire, which ignited yesterday afternoon in a mountainous area north of Los Angeles, has quickly grown to over 2.3 square miles and remains at zero percent containment. Officials in Ventura County reported the fire started around 1:30 p.m. yesterday and has been spreading east, threatening areas near Lake Piru and Lake Castaic. Approximately 4,200 residents and 1,400 structures in Los Angeles County are under mandatory evacuation orders, with an additional 12,500 residents under evacuation warnings. Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Andrew Dowd described the situation as “very dynamic,” driven by hot, dry weather, rugged terrain, and abundant dry fuel. Over 250 firefighters, supported by air crews, are on the ground battling the blaze.
Concurrently, the Gifford Fire, already the state’s largest blaze of the year, has expanded to 154 square miles and is only 15% contained. This fire, which originated from multiple smaller blazes last Friday along State Route 166, is threatening hundreds of homes in the Los Padres National Forest and has caused at least four injuries.
Officials are urging residents in affected areas to comply immediately with evacuation orders. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger emphasized the extreme danger posed by the current conditions, stating, “If first responders tell you to leave, go—without hesitation.” Wildfire risk is expected to remain elevated across much of inland California through the weekend as a heat wave intensifies, with August and September being historically dangerous months for fires in the state.
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