Hughes fire: more than 50,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings

CASTAIC, Calif. (AP) — More than 50,000 people were under evacuation orders or warnings Wednesday as a huge, fast-moving wildfire swept through the rugged mountains north of Los Angeles, but firefighters said a rapid ground and air attack gave them the advantage. the top.

The Hughes Fire broke out late in the morning and in six hours charred about 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) of trees and brush near Castaic Lake, a popular recreation area about 40 miles (40 km) away. 64 kilometers) of the devastating disaster. Fires in Eaton and Palisades which have been burning for a third week. Although the area was under a red flag, the winds were not as fast as they were when these fires broke out, allowing firefighting planes to dump dozens of thousands of gallons of fire retardant.

“The situation we find ourselves in today is very different than the situation we found ourselves in 16 days ago,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Wednesday evening.

No homes or other structures were burned.

“This fire received a robust response today, and as you can see behind us, responders are doing a great job trying to contain this fire,” Cal Fire Director Joe Tyler said. “Certainly, we’re not out of the woods yet.”

More than 31,000 people have been ordered to evacuate and another 23,000 are under evacuation warnings, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.

Parts of Interstate 5 that had been closed reopened Wednesday evening.

A 30-mile (48-kilometer) stretch of the main north-south artery had been closed to emergency vehicles, to move equipment and prevent accidents from smoke billowing from the highway. Crews on the ground and aboard water planes attempted to prevent the wind-driven fire from moving across the highway and toward Castaic.

Marrone said that because the winds were not as strong as two weeks ago, plane crews were able to drop fire retardant on the south side of the fire, where the flames were moving, he said. -he declared. More than 4,000 firefighters were mobilized to fight the fire, he said.

Winds in the area were gusting to 42 mph (67 kph) in the afternoon, but were expected to increase to 60 mph (96 kph) later in the evening and Thursday, the National Weather Service said on the social platform

Kayla Amara drove to the Stonegate neighborhood of Castaic to collect items from a friend who had rushed to pick up her daughter from preschool. As Amara prepared the car, she learned that the fire had grown and decided to hose down the property.

“Other people also water their houses. I hope there’s a house here to go back to,” Amara said as police cars raced through the streets and flames engulfed the hillside trees in the distance.

Amara, a nurse who lives in nearby Valencia, said she has been nervous for weeks as massive fires devastated Southern California.

“These other fires have been stressful, but now that this one is close to home, it’s just extremely stressful,” she said.

To the south, Los Angeles officials began prepare for possible rain even if some residents were allowed to return to the charred places Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas. Gusty winds are expected to last through Thursday and precipitation is possible beginning Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

“Rain is forecast and the threat of mudslides and debris in our fire-affected communities is real,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said during a news conference Wednesday morning.

Fire crews filled sandbags for communities while county workers installed barriers and cleared pipes and drainage basins.

Red flag warnings for critical fire danger were extended until 10 a.m. Friday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Officials remained concerned that Stockades and Eaton Fires could break their containment lines while firefighters continue to monitor hot spots.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned that winds could carry ash and advised Angelenos to get there. the city’s website to learn to protect yourself from toxic air during the latest Santa Ana wind event. Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer warned that the ashes could contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful materials.

“Even brief exposure can potentially cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems,” Ferrer said Wednesday, asking people to wear protective gear when cleaning.

Low humidity, parched vegetation and high winds came as firefighters continued to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires, which killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they erupted on January 7. Containment for the Palisades fire reached 68%, and Eaton’s fire was 91%.

Luna said Wednesday his department was still investigating 22 active missing persons reports in the two fire zones. All of the missing people are adults, he said.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the causes of the fires but has not released any findings.

Several lawsuits have been filed by people who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, alleging that Southern California Edison equipment started the fire. On Tuesday, a judge overseeing one of the lawsuits ordered the utility to produce data from circuits in the area where the fire broke out.

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Weber reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press journalists Ethan Swope in Castaic, Hallie Golden in Seattle, Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles and Julie Walker in New York contributed to this report.