San Diego blazes erupt; progress made on raging Hughes Fire: Wildfire updates
Editor's note: This file captures the news of the California wildfires from Thursday, Jan. 23. For the latest updates on the fires, follow Paste BN's coverage for Friday, Jan. 24.
SAN DIEGO − Firefighters on Thursday battled a fast-moving blaze in northern Los Angeles County that closed schools and forced thousands to flee their homes and two new fires near San Diego amid relentless Santa Ana winds and bone-dry conditions that have kept Southern California on high alert for over two weeks.
At one point, evacuation orders and warnings were issued Thursday afternoon for residents around La Jolla, about 12 miles northwest of San Diego, as the Gilman Fire threatened the wealthy coastside community. But the orders were lifted a few hours later. The blaze had only burned two acres as of 3:46 p.m. PT, according to Cal Fire.
Farther southeast, firefighters also responded to a brush fire in the Otay Wilderness Area, not far from the border with Mexico. The Border Fire had a "dangerous rate'' of spread and had charred 228 acres with zero containment, according to Cal Fire's 4:41 p.m. PT update.
On Wednesday, the Hughes Fire erupted Wednesday near Castaic Lake, a reservoir roughly 45 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The fire rapidly consumed over 10,000 acres as authorities warned of an "immediate threat to life."
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday that more than 50,000 people were under evacuation orders or warnings. But Thursday morning, the evacuation instructions for dozens of LA County zones were lifted or downgraded as residents were allowed back home. In Ventura County, the warnings were removed in all zones.
Fire officials also said containment of the blaze had increased from 14% earlier in the day to 24% around noon PT while the burnt acreage remained steady at 10,176.
Another brush fire broke out late Wednesday along the eastern side of Interstate 405 near Bel Air and the University of California-Los Angeles. The blaze, dubbed the Sepulveda Fire, initially prompted evacuation warnings, but those have been lifted as firefighters contained its spread to about 40 acres. The Los Angeles Fire Department said no structures were damaged in the blaze and that firefighters were working overnight to "fully extinguish the fire and any hot spots."
Over 1,100 firefighters had been “strategically pre-positioned” across Southern California to address the "ongoing critical fire weather," according to Cal Fire. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said more than 4,000 firefighters were battling the Hughes Fire. Red flag warnings are in effect through Friday.
A series of wildfires have broken out since Jan. 7 amid ongoing high winds, low humidity and drought conditions. Fire crews across the region have quickly worked to extinguish smaller brush fires while making progress on the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have damaged or destroyed nearly 16,000 structures and have killed at least 28 people, Cal Fire said. They're now 75% and 95% contained, respectively.
'Extreme fire behavior' complicates crews' battle against Hughes Fire
Firefighters in northern Los Angeles County forged ahead in their effort to tamp down the Hughes Fire, establishing control lines to stop the blaze from expanding into populated areas.
Overnight, crews were challenged by "extreme fire behavior, terrain, and weather," according to an incident update from fire officials. "They kept the fire from spreading to Elderberry Canyon, the Castaic Hydroelectric Power Plant and surrounding communities."
Cal Fire said firefighters are focusing Thursday on holding the fire in its current footprint and additional personnel were being staged within the unincorporated community of Castaic.
"Today firefighters expect extreme fire behavior and will aggressively fight the blaze day and night with support from aircraft," the operational update said.
Why are these fires spreading so quickly?
The above-average rain totals in Southern California during the previous two wet seasons would seem like a boon for a region with recurring droughts. In reality, they helped set the conditions for this year's explosion of fast-moving fires.
The vegetation that bloomed thanks to that abundant rain dried out over the last nine months, when the Los Angeles area received virtually no precipitation amid intense heat. Paired with low humidity and the fearful Santa Ana winds that are common this time of year, any spark would result in an intense, quickly expanding inferno.
The latest example is the Hughes Fire, which grew by an astonishing 10,000 acres in a matter of hours Wednesday about 45 miles north of Los Angeles.
"You've got a lot of these light grasses where these fires can start, and if it gets into that old growth vegetation there's a lot of energy there,'' L.A. County Fire public information officer Fred Fielding said. "Combine that with the winds, and you've got a recipe for a very high rate of spread."
− Doyle Rice
Weekend rain in California threatens new dangers: Mudslides, 'toxic runoff'
Much-needed rain is expected in drought-stricken and wildfire-ravaged areas of Southern California this weekend, weather officials said, but with it comes the threat of mudslides and a new set of problems.
"Just about every location in coastal Southern California, as well as the Southern California mountains, should get in on some showers this weekend," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dave Houk said in an online forecast Wednesday.
A 60% to 80% chance of thunderstorms is anticipated in the area beginning Saturday, along with up to 2 inches of rain, Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service's office for Los Angeles, told Paste BN. The National Weather Service said isolated heavy rain in some spots could result in debris flowing over burn scars left by the fires.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to hasten cleanup efforts and prevent fire-related debris from flowing into waterways and the city's stormwater system. Bass' executive order hopes "to shore up burn areas and stem the flow of toxic debris" and "prevent additional damage to areas already ravaged by fire and also to protect our watershed, beaches and ocean from toxic runoff."
– Terry Collins
School districts announce closures Thursday as Hughes Fire burns
Several school districts in northern Los Angeles County canceled classes Thursday as the Hughes Fire engulfed thousands of acres of land and produced large plumes of smoke and ash.
The Castaic Union School District closed all of its schools. The William S. Hart Union High School District, which serves 21,000 students in the Santa Clarita Valley, closed multiple schools near the blaze, including Castaic, Valencia and Rio Norte junior high schools.
"We will continue to work with fire officials to monitor the situation," the school district said in a statement. "We will also be monitoring air quality and adjusting activities as necessary."
Saugus Union Elementary School District announced three schools and the district office would be closed Thursday since they are in mandatory evacuation zones or under evacuation warnings.
California wildfires: Latest containment numbers
Below are the current containment levels of the fires burning in the Los Angeles area:
- Palisades Fire – 23,448 acres; 75% containment
- Eaton Fire – 14,021 acres; 95% containment
- Hughes Fire – 10,396 acres; 36% containment
- Laguna Fire − 50 acres, 70% containment
Ventura County authorities said the Laguna Fire's forward progress was stopped at 50 acres around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, and 200 firefighters were trying to increase containment. The evacuation order for Cal State University Channel Islands was downgraded to a warning.
Red flag warnings extended for Los Angeles-area through Friday
The National Weather Service expects "dangerous fire weather conditions" to last through at least Friday across Los Angeles and Ventura counties as firefighters battle multiple blazes throughout the region.
Forecasters said "fuels remain extremely dry" and strong Santa Ana winds will continue to be a persistent threat. "If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior and rapid fire growth, which would threaten life and property," the weather service said.
Winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected with some stronger gusts up to 50 mph possible at higher elevations. The winds will gradually lessen in intensity Thursday night and into Friday, the weather service said.
Sepulveda Fire temporarily shuts down portion of I-405 in Los Angeles
The Sepulveda Fire broke out late Wednesday near Bel-Air, forcing officials to temporarily close the southbound lanes of the 405 Freeway just north of the Getty Center museum.
The freeway was reopened in a matter of hours as firefighters gained a foothold on the new brush fire, prompting evacuation orders to be lifted. The Los Angeles Fire Department said it stopped the forward progress of the blaze and no structures were damaged by the fire.