Officials ordered evacuations in the area surrounding the Hughes Fire on Wednesday morning, located near Castaic Lake in Los Angeles County.
Fanned by strong winds, the wildfires have killed at least 24 people and swept through 40,000 acres in the Greater Los Angeles area.
The Hughes Fire, which broke out north of Santa Clarita in Castaic, Calif., earlier Wednesday, has scorched more than 3,400 acres, according to Cal Fire.
LET’S GO TO L.A. COUNTY NOW, WHERE A FIRE HAS FORCED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO EVACUATE AS CREWS HAVE RUSHED IN TO TRY TO PROTECT HOMES. THE FIRE STARTED YESTERDAY JUST EAST OF CASTAIC LAKE, AND THE WIND PUSHED THE FIRE WEST TOWARD HOMES AND BUSINESSES.
With parts of Los Angeles County still smoldering from wildfires, the expected rain this weekend would seem like a welcome relief. But how the rain falls could make the difference between a disaster respite or a disaster repeat.
More than 50,000 are under evacuation orders or warnings as a new wind-driven wildfire spreads in the mountains north of Los Angeles.
First discovered: 3:20 p.m. Jan. 24 A new wildfire was reported today at 3:20 p.m. in Los Angeles County. The wildfire has been burning on private land. At this time, there is no data on the containment status of the fire and the cause has yet to be determined.
The 10,396-acre Hughes fire reached 56% containment Friday as first responders gained progress on multiple blazes burning in Los Angeles County, which is expected to receive some rain over the weekend.
Dustin and Jennifer Nehl were arrested last weekend after police said they were caught trying to enter the Palisades Fire evacuation zone dressed as firefighters.
Gov. Gavin Newsom will sign legislation Thursday providing $2.5 billion in funding to relief efforts in Los Angeles County, where two massive wildfires killed 28 people and left behind a trail of destruction this month.