A wildfire named Canyon Fire broke out in a mountainous area north of Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon, spreading at an alarming speed and forcing thousands of residents to evacuate.
According to data published by the American newspaper The Washington Post, the fire began around 1:30 p.m.
According to the emergency teams in Ventura County, in just five hours, the fire had consumed six square kilometers.
As detailed by the American newspaper The Washington Post, the fire is located just south of Lake Piru, a reservoir nestled in the Los Padres National Forest. From there, the flames are advancing eastward, threatening recreational areas like Castaic Lake, which was severely affected by the Hughes fire last January.
Faced with the rapid spread of the fire, local authorities have activated emergency protocols, while firefighting teams continue to work intensively through the night to contain the fire's advance.
Additionally, a dozen inhabited areas with thousands of residents are under evacuation orders, as the emergency agency has described on its website as a "rapidly spreading fire to the east." The agency warned that the fire poses a direct threat to power lines and various nearby communities.
Affected by evacuation orders
The magnitude of the Canyon Fire has led to the implementation of widespread evacuation measures in Southern California.
CNN, the American news channel, reports that, as stated by Andrew Dowd, spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department, approximately 4,200 residents and 1,400 structures are under evacuation orders, while another 12,500 residents remain on alert for possible evacuation.
In Ventura County, the affected areas are less densely populated. However, the evacuation of 56 people from the recreational area of Lake Piru has been confirmed.
High temperatures, low humidity, and rugged terrain have contributed to the fire evolving unpredictably. Dowd described the situation as "very dynamic" and mentioned that over 250 firefighters are working on the ground in coordination with helicopters and aerial units to contain the flames' advance.
Urgent appeal to the population
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger made a plea to residents in the affected areas. "The extreme heat and low humidity in our northern county have created dangerous conditions where flames can spread at an alarming speed," she stated in a press release. "If emergency teams tell you to leave, leave without hesitation."
The new fire comes as another large wildfire, the Gifford fire, in central California became the largest of the year in the state, threatening hundreds of homes and burning out of control in the Los Padres National Forest.