Just when the winds seemed to be dying down, a new blaze has erupted in fire-ravaged Los Angeles. Dubbed the Hughes Fire, the wildfire broke out around 10:30 am and went from 50-100 acres to 500-1000 acres, according to local TV outlets, all of which preempted regular coverage to focus on the conflagration.
A local fire official said crews anticipate “a high level of spread,” with winds locally to to 32 mph and expected to increase.
All areas in the immediate vicinity of Castaic Lake were under mandatory evacuation orders. Evacuation warnings are in place for a large circular area surrounding the lake, including the Sloan Canyon, Charlie Canyon and Bitter Canyon areas, and stretching nearly to Sandberg on the north, and almost as far east of Green Valley. Mandatory evacuation warnings were later expanded well north of Castaic Lake, west to the Golden State (5) Freeway and stretching as far south of Tapia Canyon Road.
With red flag conditions forecast through 8 pm Thursday, firefighters face winds channeled down local canyons and very low humidity.
Elsewhere, the Palisades Fire stands at 23,448 acres and was 68% contained as of this morning. At least 11 deaths, 6,662 structures destroyed and 890 damaged.
Eaton Fire: 14,021 acres, 91% contained, at least 17 dead, 9,418 structures destroyed and 1,073 damaged.
