Wildfire Rages Out of Control in Los Angeles
Dangerous Conditions
A rapidly spreading wildfire fueled by hurricane-strength winds is burning out of control near Los Angeles, with thousands of residents ordered to evacuate and some taken to the hospital.
Multiple Homes Destroyed
The fire tore through neighborhoods, blanketing a huge area in thick, choking smoke, destroying multiple large homes. Fierce gusts up to 80 miles (130 kilometers) an hour were fueling flames that were scorching through farmland.
Fire Spreads Rapidly
The Mountain Fire was reported near Moorpark, 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, on Wednesday morning. By afternoon, it had exploded to 10,400 acres (4,200 hectares), with flames reaching a suburb of Camarillo, home to around 70,000 people.
Residents Flee in Panic
Local broadcasters showed luxury homes in the Camarillo Heights area engulfed in flames, many utterly destroyed. Further up the hillsides, aerial footage showed people frantically loading horses into trailers at sprawling ranch properties as swirling flames loomed nearby.
Firefighters Battle Blaze
Firefighters had no official figures for the number of properties affected by the blaze, with conditions on the ground too dangerous to allow damage assessment. There was no immediate figure for the number of people hurt, but officials said some had been taken to the hospital.
Fire Chief’s Warning
Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner warned that the fire was moving "dangerously fast" and urged everyone to follow instructions from law enforcement. "When you get an evacuation order from the sheriff, leave. Your homes can be replaced. Your lives can’t. Leave," he said.
Residents’ Stories
Gail Liacko, a resident of the affected area, described the sudden evacuation. "All of a sudden there was soot on our patio furniture, coming from the front of the house as well as the back, and the smoke was kind of surrounding our street," she said. "It was just very surreal. You just don’t know what to pack in a moment of absolute panic."
Power Outages
Tens of thousands of customers had lost power in the area as electricity companies shut off supplies, a common strategy in California during high winds to reduce the risk of new fires from energized power lines.
National Weather Service Warning
The National Weather Service warned that dangerous winds were set to continue until at least the end of Thursday. "Extreme and life-threatening fire behavior… Particularly dangerous situation," an NWS warning said.
Malibu Blaze
Another blaze had also broken out in Malibu, threatening multi-million dollar homes on some of the most desirable coastline in Southern California.
Conclusion
The fast-moving wildfire has left thousands of residents displaced and many more in danger. Firefighters are working tirelessly to contain the blaze, but the situation remains precarious. As the National Weather Service warned, "extreme and life-threatening fire behavior" is expected to continue, making it a particularly dangerous situation.
FAQs
- What is the current size of the fire?
The fire has grown to 10,400 acres (4,200 hectares). - How many people have been evacuated?
Thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate. - How many homes have been destroyed?
Multiple large homes have been destroyed. - Is the fire contained?
No, the fire is entirely uncontained and moving rapidly. - What is the cause of the fire?
The fire was fanned by hurricane-strength winds.