Evacuations ordered as fast-moving wildfire threatens remote communities in North LA
Remote communities near a new fast-moving wildfire in the mountains north of Los Angeles were ordered to evacuate on Wednesday as Southern California braced for another round of dangerous winds ahead of possible rain over the weekend.
The Hughes fire, which broke out in the early hours of the morning, quickly tore through nearly nine square miles of trees and brush and sent a thick plume of dark smoke near Castaic Lake, 40 miles north of the devastated Eaton and Palisades, for a third week.
Interstate 5, a major north-south arterial highway, was closed as flames raced over hillsides and into rugged valleys. Crews on the ground and wind-driven water jets attacked the fire.
To the south, some residents were allowed to return to the burned areas of Pacific Palisades and Altadena, but LA officials were bracing for rain. Severe weather is expected to last through Thursday.
“We’re going to see another round of critical fire conditions in Southern California,” National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall said Wednesday morning. “At this point, it seems like a broken record.”
LA Mayor Karen Bass has issued an executive order to accelerate cleanup efforts in burned areas and address the environmental impacts of fire-related pollution. She ordered workers to remove vegetation, raise hills and strengthen roads before the rains.
LA County supervisors have approved an emergency request to build flood control infrastructure and expedite the removal and removal of silt in fire-ravaged areas.
“As the fire settles, new challenges lie ahead. Rain is in the forecast and the threat of mud and debris flows is real in our fire-affected communities,” Superintendent Kathryn Barger said at a news conference Wednesday.
A 60 to 80 percent chance of light rain is forecast for Southern California starting Saturday, with most areas getting no more than 0.8 inches, said Ryan Kittle, a meteorologist with the weather service. About 2.5 centimeters can fall in a local thunderstorm, which will be a very bad situation if it falls on sufficiently burned slopes.
“But even if the rain doesn’t happen this time, it might be good practice for those communities because it’s a threat that’s going to be around for months or years,” Kittle said Tuesday.
Fire crews were filling sandbags for the community while county crews were installing barriers and clearing drains and basins.
In the year In 2018, the town of Montecito, about 130 kilometers off the coast of Los Angeles, was ravaged by mud after heavy rains ignited wildfires on bare hillsides. 23 people died and hundreds of houses were damaged.
Red flag warnings for severe wildfires have been extended for LA and Ventura counties until 8 p.m. Thursday. David Acuna, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, said officials are concerned that the two main fires, the Palisades and Eaton fires, may break containment lines as firefighters continue to monitor hot spots.
Fire engines and water jets allowed crews to quickly extinguish several small fires in LA, San Diego and Riverside counties.
Officials urge residents to review evacuation plans, prepare emergency supplies, and watch out for fire hazards and report them quickly.
Many Los Angeles residents are now waiting to get what’s left of their homes back. But even for those whose homes survived, health problems surrounding the smoke and ash lingered.
Bass also warned that winds could carry ash, advising Angelenos to visit the city’s website to learn how to protect themselves from toxic air during the recent Santa Ana wind event. LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer warned that ash can contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful substances.
“Even short-term exposure can cause skin irritation and lead to serious complications,” Ferrer said Wednesday, urging people to wear protective gear while cleaning.
The low humidity, bone-dry vegetation and strong winds came as firefighters continued to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures. 68 percent, and the Eaton fire was 91 percent.
More than a week into the crisis of the wildfires in Los Angeles, the frustration has increased with evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people. He tells them it will be at least another week before the authorities are allowed to search their homes.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday that his department is still investigating reports of 22 missing people in both fire zones. All the missing are adults, he said.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the cause of the fire, but nothing has been found.
Several lawsuits have been filed by people who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire in Southern California, alleging that Edison appliances started the blaze. On Tuesday, a judge presiding over one of the cases ordered the service to provide information from districts in the area where the fire broke out.
US President Donald Trump, who criticized the response to the wildfires in Monday’s inaugural address, said he would travel to Los Angeles on Friday. Barger said Wednesday that the details of Trump’s visit are still being worked out.