Rapid Brush Fire Triggers Evacuations in Southern California
A rapidly advancing brush fire in Southern California prompted immediate evacuations on Thursday as firefighting teams battled the growing blaze.
The Canyon Fire ignited Thursday afternoon, situated east of Lake Piru in Ventura County. Initially estimated at approximately 50 acres, the fire surged to over 1,000 acres shortly thereafter, fire officials reported.
Spreading north of Highway 126, the fire eventually extended into Los Angeles County, according to officials.
Evacuation orders were issued for the Lake Piru Recreation Area and adjacent communities.
Additionally, ranches in the western sector of Holser Canyon received an evacuation advisory, as noted by NBC 4.
Several areas in Los Angeles County also found themselves under both evacuation orders and warnings.
"The Canyon Fire is currently raging between Los Angeles and Ventura Counties in the vicinity of Lake Piru, with multiple zones now subject to evacuation orders and advisories," stated the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
To combat the fire, water-dropping aircraft were deployed, utilizing Lake Piru—a reservoir located within Los Padres National Forest, northwest of Los Angeles—for refilling operations, NBC 4 reported.
The Canyon Fire is one of four active fires in Southern California on the same day.
The cause of these fires remains uncertain.
This incident follows a series of destructive wildfires earlier this year in Southern California, which devastated more than 50,000 acres and obliterated upwards of 18,000 homes and structures.
A California Department of Corrections fire crew was among the responders to the rapidly spreading incident.
As smoke billowed through Hasley Canyon, fire crews continued their efforts to control the situation.
The fire originated north of Highway 126 in Southern California.
At least 30 fatalities have been recorded, with approximately 200,000 residents displaced.
This year has seen over 4,400 wildfires reported in California, a noticeable rise from 3,800 incidents recorded at the same point last year, according to NBC 4.
Over 221,100 acres have been scorched in 2023, surpassing the 83,200 acres that had burned by July of the previous year.
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