Evacuations were ordered Wednesday for remote communities near a new, fast-moving wildfire in the mountains north of Los Angeles, as Southern California suffered another round of dangerous winds ahead of rain ' could be over the weekend.
The Hughes fire broke out late in the morning and quickly tore through about nine square kilometers of trees and brush, sending up a large plume of dark smoke near Castaic Lake, about 64 kilometers north of the devastating fires. Eaton and Palisades shoot for third week.
Off-ramps on Interstate 5, a major north-south artery, were closed as flames raced over hilltops and down into rugged canyons. Crews on the ground and in seaplanes attacked the flames with the wind.
Meanwhile to the south, LA officials were preparing for possible rain even as some residents were allowed to return to the charred areas of Pacific Palisades and Altadena. The weather was expected to last until Thursday.
“We're going to see another round of emergency fire conditions across southern California,” National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall said Wednesday morning. “At this point, it's like a broken record.”
LA Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to accelerate cleanup efforts in burn areas and to reduce the environmental impacts of fire-related pollution. She asked the crews to remove vegetation, shore up hillsides and reinforce roads before the possible rain.
L.A. County supervisors also approved an emergency move to install flood control infrastructure and expedite sediment removal in fire-affected areas.
“As the fires have calmed down, we have new challenges,” said supervisor Kathryn Barger at a news conference Wednesday. “Rain is in the forecast and the risk of mudflows and debris is in the our communities under the influence of a real fire.”
A 60 to 80 percent chance of some rain was expected for southern California starting Saturday, with most areas likely to get more than about 0.8 centimeters, according to Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist for the weather service office. for LA However, local thunderstorms could drop to about 2.5 centimeters, which would be the worst case if enough falls on burned slopes.
“But even if the water doesn't materialize this time, it could be good practice for these communities because this will be a risk that they will have to deal with for months or years,” Kittell said Tuesday.
Fire crews filled sandbags for communities while county workers installed barriers and cleaned drain pipes and basins.
In 2018, Montecito, a town about 130 kilometers up the coast from Los Angeles, was ravaged by mudslides after the downpour of mountainsides that had been burned bare by a massive wildfire. Twenty-three people died, and hundreds of homes were destroyed.
Red flag warnings for emergency fire danger have been extended through 8 p.m. Thursday in LA and Ventura counties. Officials remained concerned that the two main fires, the Palisades and Eaton fires, could breach their containment lines as firefighters continue to search for hot spots, said David Acuna, a spokesman for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
Strategically placed fire engines and water jets allowed crews to quickly extinguish several small fires that broke out in L.A., San Diego and Riverside counties, officials said. .
Authorities urged residents to review evacuation plans, prepare emergency kits, and watch for and report fires quickly.
Many Los Angeles residents are now waiting to return to what remains of their homes. But even for those whose homes were spared, health concerns about smoke and ash remain.
Bass also warned that winds could carry ash and advised Angelenos to visit the city's website to learn how to protect themselves from toxic air during the latest Santa Ana wind event. LA County public health director Barbara Ferrer warned that the ash may contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful substances.
“Even brief exposure could cause skin irritation and lead to more serious complications,” Ferrer said Wednesday, urging people to wear protective gear while cleaning.
The low humidity, bone-dry vegetation and strong winds came as firefighters continued to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they started. January 7. The Palisades fire reached 68 percent containment, while the Eaton Fire was at 91 percent.
More than a week into the wildfire crisis in Los Angeles, the frustration has grown for tens of thousands of people under evacuation orders. Officials tell them it could be at least another week before they get permission to search their homes.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday that his department was still investigating 22 active reports of missing persons in the two fire areas. All of the people reported missing are adults, he said.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the causes of the fires, but has not released any findings.
Several lawsuits have been filed by people who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, alleging that Southern California Edison equipment caused the fire. On Tuesday, a judge presiding over one of the lawsuits ordered the utility to produce data from circuits in the area where the fire started.
US President Donald Trump, who criticized the response to the wildfires during his first speech on Monday, has said he will travel to Los Angeles on Friday. Barger said Wednesday that the details of Trump's visit were still being worked out.
