Hurst Fire causes more evacuations in Southern California: See map
"The Hurst Fire is spreading rapidly under high winds, creating dangerous conditions for nearby communities," according to Cal Fire.
Three wildfires have set thousands of acres ablaze and killed at least two people in Los Angeles County.
The Hurst Fire has set 505 acres ablaze near San Fernando, California in the Sylmar neighborhood, according to Cal Fire. It is 0% contained.
The cause of the fire, which was discovered on Tuesday at around 10:30 p.m., remains under investigation, according to the department.
However, high winds and severe fire weather have created the perfect conditions for fires to spark and spread, according to the National Weather Service.
"The Hurst Fire is spreading rapidly under high winds, creating dangerous conditions for nearby communities," Cal Fire said. "Fire crews are working tirelessly to contain the fire and protect critical infrastructure as it threatens homes and other structures."
Why is the fire so aggressive?
Multiple factors created favorable conditions for wildfires to start and spread in Southern California.
The following conditions have contributed to the "aggressive fire behavior," according to Cal Fire:
- Dry fuels
- Strong winds
- Low humidity
Wildfire maps
School districts closed due to fires
The following school districts will remain closed on Wednesday, Jan. 8 due to multiple wildfires in the area, according to the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
- Alhambra Unified School District
- Arcadia Unified School District
- Azusa Unified School District
- Baldwin Park Unified School District
- Bonita Unified School District
- Burbank Unified School District
- Duarte Unified School District
- El Monte City School District
- Glendale Unified School District
- La Canada Unified School District
- Las Vírgenes School District
- Los Angeles Unified School District (Kenter Canyon Charter Elementary, Canyon Charter Elementary School, Marquez Charter Elementary School, Palisades Charter Elementary School, Paul Revere Charter Middle School, and Topanga Elementary Charter School are closed. Classes are not in session at Palisades Charter High School, and students at the Zoo at North Hollywood High were asked to go to the North Hollywood High School main campus)
- Monrovia Unified School District
- Mountain View School District
- Rosemead School District
- San Gabriel Unified School District
- San Marino Unified School District
- Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District
- South Pasadena Unified School District
- Temple City Unified School District
- Valle Lindo School District
State of emergency
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as the National Weather Service forecasts high winds and "extreme fire weather" to threaten much of Southern California until Thursday.
"This is a highly dangerous windstorm that’s creating extreme fire risk – and we’re not out of the woods," Newsom said in a statement. "We’re already seeing the destructive impacts with this fire in Pacific Palisades that grew rapidly in a matter of minutes."
The state secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant, approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA.
"In addition to prepositioning dozens of firefighting engines and personnel in advance of the fire threat, we have secured funding from the federal government to fight this destructive, fast-moving fire," Newsom said.
Evacuation orders
Several evacuation orders were placed on different areas affected by the Hurst Fire. Officials are urging residents to evacuate if necessary due to life-threatening conditions or be prepared to evacuate.
The LA Fire Department also asks people to report any suspicious activity to help prevent arson.
An interactive map of evacuation orders and warnings related to the Eaton Fire can be found on Cal Fire's website.
The below map of evacuation zones was current as of 12 p.m. ET.
Evacuation shelters
Anyone evacuating their homes due to the fire can go to the following locations, according to Cal Fire:
- Ritchie Valens Recreation Center- 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd.Pacoima, California, 91331
- Northridge Park Camino Real- 10120 Reseda Blvd.,Northridge, California, 91324
- Sepulveda Recreation Center- 8825 Kester Ave.Panorama City, California 9140
Eaton Fire
The Eaton Fire is one of the three fires burning in Los Angeles County.
It was first reported around 6:30 p.m. local time near the eastern Los Angeles suburb of Altadena, according to KTTV and CBS News. It has since set 1,000 acres ablaze and remains at 0% containment, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire also states that "the fire continues to dangerously burn both east and west with spot fires within the communities of Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre."
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but the flames have sparked evacuation orders and warnings in dozens of zones.
The Palisades Fire
Another wildfire raging in California is the Palisades Fire. It set 2,921 acres ablaze in Los Angeles County, and residents are being forced to evacuate due to an "immediate threat to life," according to Cal Fire.
On Tuesday, at 10:30 a.m. local time, the fire ignited near the Topanga Canyon, around 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, according to the office of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Later in the day, evacuation orders were issued for the Palisades area.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, according to Cal Fire.
Julia is a trending reporter for Paste BN. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com