A rapidly growing brush fire erupted Thursday afternoon in the mountainous region north of Los Angeles, triggering massive evacuations and raising alarms across southern California. Dubbed the Canyon Fire, the blaze ignited around 1:30 PM and exploded in size, scorching more than 4.1 square kilometers within just three hours, according to Ventura County emergency officials.
The fire broke out near Lake Piru in the Los Padres National Forest, an area notorious for rugged terrain and dry brush. Officials said the fire remained completely uncontained as of late Thursday afternoon and was advancing eastward at a dangerous pace. The same region is no stranger to wildfire devastation—Lake Castaic, nearby, was the site of the January Hughes Fire, which burned 39 square kilometers in only six hours and forced nearly 50,000 evacuations.
Ventura and Los Angeles counties quickly moved into crisis mode. Over 4,200 residents and 1,400 structures in LA County were placed under mandatory evacuation orders, while an additional 12,500 people were put under evacuation warnings. While Ventura County’s evacuation zones were more sparsely populated, officials confirmed that 56 individuals had to be evacuated from the Lake Piru recreation area.
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Firefighters described the blaze as an extremely volatile and evolving situation. Andrew Dowd, spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department, cited the perfect storm of conditions fueling the fire — sweltering heat, low humidity, steep slopes, and dry vegetation. More than 250 firefighters were on the ground battling the flames with the help of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued an urgent plea to residents in harm’s way: “Extreme heat and low humidity in our north county have created dangerous conditions where flames can spread with alarming speed. If first responders tell you to leave, go — without hesitation.”
This dangerous fire comes on the heels of another massive blaze in Central California. The Gifford Fire, now officially the largest wildfire of the year in the state, had ballooned to 399 square kilometers by Thursday afternoon. It was only 15% contained and continued to threaten hundreds of homes. That fire began as at least four smaller blazes along State Route 166 last Friday, eventually merging and forcing major highway closures near Santa Maria. At least four people have been injured. The cause remains under investigation.
With a severe heatwave tightening its grip on California, wildfire risk is expected to remain dangerously high through the weekend. August and September historically mark the peak of the state’s wildfire season. According to the California fire department’s latest forecast, Southern California faces elevated threats due to persistent drought conditions, thick grass cover, and diminishing coastal moisture.
As fire crews race against time and the flames, officials continue to monitor weather shifts, wind speeds, and terrain challenges — all of which could spell disaster if the fire isn't brought under control soon.
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