Thousands Forced To Evacuate After Wildfire Rapidly Spreads To Over 5,000 Acres

The rapidly-spreading Canyon Fire in California exploded to over 5,000 acres by Friday afternoon, forcing thousands of residents in northern Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County to evacuate.

The fire is currently 25% contained, according to an alert posted by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Los Angeles Times provided additional info:

Taking advantage of cooler temperatures overnight, crews were able to make some inroads against the fast-moving blaze, halting any additional spread and reaching 25% containment by Friday morning, Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Andrew Dowd said. But he said the fight ahead remains challenging, given scorching weather, rugged terrain and a parched landscape that, together, can foster extreme fire growth.

“We’re still expecting hot and dry conditions today,” Dowd said. “We still have record-low fuel moisture in the area, so we’re not letting our guard up.”

Two small structures, likely sheds or outbuildings, have been confirmed destroyed in the blaze, Dowd said. Officials have not yet confirmed any homes or businesses damaged, but video from the scene showed at least one building engulfed in flames, though it wasn’t immediately clear the extent of any additional damage.

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Residents in the Val Verde area said flames were visible from the neighborhood’s western edge Thursday, but it appeared to have calmed a bit Friday morning, though the air remains thick with soot and ash.

“There’s a lot of smoke, the air is really, really bad,” Jennifer Elkins, president of the Val Verde Civic Assn., said Friday. Her neighborhood was under an evacuation order Thursday afternoon, but that downgraded to a warning around midnight, when she returned.

“We’re just kind of staying locked up indoors and keeping an eye on things,” Elkins said. “This is a really tough fire season and I’m really glad the fire department is really taking every fire seriously. … This is a pretty big threat to the community.”

Footage from the terrifying fire below:

ABC News has more:

Five zones in Los Angeles County are under evacuation orders, with 2,700 residents evacuated and 700 structures threatened by the flames, officials said. Six other zones in this county are currently under an evacuation warning, with 1,400 residents and 5,000 structures at risk, officials said.

Ventura County also has five zones under evacuation orders and two areas under evacuation warnings. A full list of the counties under evacuation orders and warnings is available on Cal Fire’s website.

For those having to evacuate, a shelter has been established at the College of the Canyon’s East Gymnasium in Santa Clarita, officials said.

“The issuance of this emergency proclamation is a crucial step in our fight against the Canyon Fire,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “It allows us to unlock vital state and local resources more quickly and removes barriers that could slow down our first responders. Our priority is to protect lives, homes, and critical infrastructure, and this proclamation will help ensure that we have the tools and support necessary to meet the urgent needs of our communities.”

The emergency declaration issued by officials grants authorities the flexibility to “coordinate across agencies, mobilize additional firefighting personnel and equipment, and streamline procurement processes,” officials said.

The blaze, which began on Thursday afternoon, is burning east with a “rapid rate of spread in light to medium fuels,” according to Cal Fire. Multiple strike teams of engines, hand crews and dozers have been ordered to “reinforce the initial response,” with 400 personnel and seven helicopters assigned to fight the flames, officials said.

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