A wildfire erupted in a mountainous region north of Los Angeles on Thursday, prompting mass evacuations. The Canyon Fire started at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time and rapidly expanded to over six square kilometers within a five-hour period, as reported by Ventura County emergency services. By late Thursday afternoon, the fire remained uncontained and was spreading eastward.
Situated just south of Lake Piru in the Los Padres National Forest, the fire is near Lake Castaic, an area previously affected by the Hughes Fire in January. The Hughes Fire scorched around 39 square kilometers in six hours, leading to the evacuation of 50,000 individuals.
In Los Angeles County, about 4,200 residents and 1,400 structures have been placed under evacuation orders, with an additional 12,500 residents on evacuation alerts, according to Andrew Dowd, a spokesperson for the Venture County Fire Department. Dowd mentioned that the evacuation zones in Ventura County are sparsely populated, with 56 people evacuated from the Lake Piru recreation area.
Describing the situation as “very dynamic,” Dowd attributed the fire’s rapid spread to hot, dry weather, steep terrain, and dry vegetation. He highlighted the coordinated efforts of 250 firefighters on the ground, supported by helicopters and other aerial resources.
County Supervisor Kathryn Barger urged residents to heed evacuation orders, citing the dangerous conditions created by extreme heat and low humidity in the region. The ongoing heatwave in inland California has elevated the risk of wildfires, with August and September typically representing peak wildfire season in the state.
Meanwhile, a separate massive wildfire in central California, known as the Gifford Fire, has become the largest blaze of the year, threatening numerous homes and spreading uncontrollably in the Los Padres National Forest. The Gifford Fire had expanded to 399 square kilometers by Thursday, with containment at 15%. The fire originated from multiple smaller blazes that erupted last Friday along State Route 166, leading to road closures east of Santa Maria.
As wildfires continue to pose a significant threat across California, authorities are closely monitoring the situation and urging residents to stay vigilant during this critical period.