Tens of thousands of residents have been forced to flee Los Angeles County due to a new, rapidly spreading wildfire. The area is already experiencing some of the most devastating flames in its history.

On Wednesday morning, the Hughes fire broke out 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Los Angeles, close to Castaic Lake, in a mountainous region that abuts a number of residential neighbourhoods and educational institutions.

With the help of winds and dry brush, it expanded to almost 10,000 acres in a few hours on Wednesday. Officials are confident they can bring it under control, and no homes or businesses have been destroyed.

The two massive fires that have burned several neighbourhoods this month are to the north of the new one.

Local news showed residents near the Hughes fire hosing down their homes and gardens with water and others rushing to evacuate. Orange flames lined the mountains as aircraft dropped water and flame retardant. The region is once again under a red flag warning, continuing through Thursday. This cautions of a high fire risk due to strong winds and dry, low-humid conditions. Winds in the area were blowing at about 20-30mph (32-48km/h), but could pick up, which would fan the blaze and make it harder for air crews to operate.

A cloud of smoke from the Hughes Fire rises as firefighters and aircraft battle it near Castaic Lake, north of Santa Clarita, as seen from a highway nearby, California, U.S. January 22, 2025. REUTERS/David Swanson

Climate change has made the grasses and shrubs that are fuelling the Los Angeles fires more vulnerable to burning, scientists have said. Rapid “whiplash”-style swings between dry and wet conditions in the region in recent years have created a massive amount of tinder-dry vegetation that is ready to catch fire.

According to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, around 31,000 residents in the area are required to evacuate, and another 23,000 have received warnings that they could need to leave. He stated that a local jail was evacuating close to 500 detainees.

As the sun set on Wednesday, the fire grew even more, but according to Los Angeles County fire chief Anthony Marrone, he thought workers were making headway.

By gvoice

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