New wildfire near Los Angeles forces evacuations for 31,000 residents

A new wildfire broke out near Los Angeles, quickly spreading across more than 9,400 acres (38 square km) due to strong winds, prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders for over 31,000 residents.

The Hughes fires, which captured a 50 miles (80km) area in north Los Angeles, increased trouble for firefighters in the region who have been attempting to manage to bring two major fires under control. 

The new fire near Los Angeles erupted on Wednesday and grew to two-thirds the size of the Eaton Fire, which was one of two major wildfires currently affecting the Los Angeles area.

Also check: Death toll reaches 24 as LA fire expected to intensify

Authorities warned the people in the Castaic Lake area of Los Angeles County that they were facing an “immediate threat to life” while much of Southern California remained under a red flag warning, as the fire is expected to worsen due to strong winds.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced at a press conference that some 31,000 people have been ordered to evacuate.

In response to the red flag warning and the threat of fast-moving fires, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Maroone confirmed the deployment of at least 1,100 firefighters to combat the Hughes Fire, with over 4,000 personnel already working in the region.

Two other major wildfires, the Eaton Fire, which has burned 14,021 acres and is 91% contained, and the Palisades Fire, which has consumed 23,448 acres and is 68% contained, continue to challenge firefighting efforts.

Also Read: Firefighters rescue animals in Los Angeles

The conflagrations sparked on January 7 burned an area that was nearly the size of Washington DC, took the lives of at least 28 and destroyed nearly 16,000 structures. 

Meanwhile, a private forecaster, AccuWeather, cited by Reuters, has projected damage and economic losses from the wildfires at over $250 billion.