The big picture:
In January 2025, Los Angeles experienced a significant wildfire fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds and dry conditions following a prolonged drought. The fire rapidly spread, prompting evacuations in surrounding neighborhoods and extensive response efforts from local fire departments.
Key points:
- The new wave of the Hughes Fire has occurred in mountainous areas 80 kilometers north of Los Angeles, spreading rapidly and leading to evacuation orders for thousands of households.
- The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) reported that by Wednesday evening (January 22), it had been unable to contain any percentage of the new wildfire wave, which has impacted both Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
- The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, California, which began two weeks ago, have not only remained uncontrolled but have also sparked a new wave of fires, once again placing thousands under evacuation warnings. So far, 27 people have died.
What they are saying:
- The Los Angeles Fire Department announced on Thursday that the fire, which ignited near Castaic Lake on Wednesday, is rapidly spreading and has increased to 10,174 acres.
- The Los Angeles Fire Department stated that the Hughes Fire ignited around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, approximately 45 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, prompting mandatory evacuation orders and evacuation warnings for about 50,000 people, and has so far burned over 10,000 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
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