Breaking: New Wildfire Triggers Mass Evacuations in Ventura County, California

A rapidly spreading brush fire in Ventura County, just north of Los Angeles, has prompted urgent evacuation orders for thousands of residents. The Canyon fire, which ignited on Thursday afternoon, has already scorched over 7.6 square miles (19.7 sq km) and remains 0% contained as of Thursday evening.

The blaze is burning fiercely near Lake Piru within the Los Padres National Forest and is close to Castaic Lake. Authorities have confirmed that 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. Fifty-six people have been evacuated from the Lake Piru recreation area.

Ventura County fire department spokesperson Andrew Dowd described the situation as “very dynamic,” attributing the rapid spread to extreme heat, low humidity, dry fuel, and challenging, rugged terrain. Over 250 firefighters are on the ground, supported by helicopters and other air resources, battling the uncontained inferno.

The Ventura County blaze erupts as California grapples with an intense wildfire season. The Gifford fire in central California, now the state’s largest of the year, has expanded to 154 square miles (399 sq km) and is only 15% contained, threatening hundreds of homes. Wildfire risk is expected to remain elevated across much of inland California through the weekend due to an ongoing heatwave, intensifying concerns during what are typically the state’s most dangerous months for fires.

阅读中文版 (Read Chinese Version)

Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.