Latest news with #KathrynBarger
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Climate
- Saudi Gazette
Evacuation orders eased as California firefighters gain ground on Canyon fire
LOS ANGELES — Evacuation orders were lifted Friday in parts of southern California as firefighters made progress against a brush fire that forced thousands from their homes north of Los Angeles. The Canyon fire, which ignited Thursday in a mountainous area, had burned 8.4 square miles (21.9 square kilometers) by late morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Officials said the blaze was 28% contained, and evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings, though the threat to life and property remained. Nearly 4,200 residents in Los Angeles County were under evacuation orders at the height of the fire, with another 12,500 placed under warnings. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries and were hospitalized 'out of an abundance of caution,' the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. All are expected to recover. Crews in Ventura County reported 'good progress' in suppressing the flames, crediting favorable weather and repeated water and retardant drops by South Coast Air Quality Management District issued smoke advisories for parts of Los Angeles County, warning that unhealthy air quality could persist through cautioned residents about the health risks of inhaling fine particles from wildfire smoke, which can worsen asthma, lung disease and other chronic conditions.'If first responders tell you to leave, go without hesitation,' LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said, citing extreme heat and low humidity as conditions fueling rapid fire Canyon fire follows another major blaze — the Gifford wildfire — burning in Central California. Sparked in Los Padres National Forest, it has scorched 154 square miles (399 square kilometers), making it the state's largest wildfire so far this year. About 110,000 residents in Santa Maria remain on alert for possible causes of both fires are under investigation. State officials warned that wildfire risk will remain elevated through the weekend amid a heatwave, drought and dry vegetation. — Agencies
News18
3 days ago
- Climate
- News18
Canyon Fire Burns Over 5,000 Acres Near LA, Air Quality Declines Sharply
Last Updated: An Air Quality Alert was issued Friday due to the fire's impact on surrounding communities. Several areas across Los Angeles are battling fast-moving wildfires, with residents forced to evacuate their homes in haste as firefighters work tirelessly to bring the blazes under control. Among the most concerning is the Canyon Fire, which erupted Thursday and has rapidly spread across parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. The fire reportedly began near Lake Piru and has moved eastward toward Castaic. As of early Friday afternoon, the Canyon Fire had scorched approximately 5,370 acres, according to the latest updates from the LA County. While containment efforts are ongoing, the fire is currently 25% contained, up from 0% earlier on Friday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported. Fueled by temperatures exceeding 100°F (37.7°C) and strong gusty winds, the fire spread quickly through the dry, brush-covered hills and mountainous terrain. Authorities are cautiously optimistic that cooler nighttime temperatures may help slow the fire's advance, but conditions remain volatile. An Air Quality Alert was issued Friday due to the fire's impact on surrounding communities. Air quality in affected regions has plummeted to 'unhealthy" levels, prompting the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District to issue warnings for areas including Piru, Fillmore, and Santa Paula. The Ventura County Fire Department has ordered mandatory evacuations for more than 2,700 residents, while an evacuation warning remains in place for approximately 14,000 people in the region. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger took to social media to urge compliance with evacuation directives. 'If you're in Santa Clarita, Hasley Canyon, or Val Verde, take evacuation orders seriously – when first responders say GO, leave immediately. Keep aware – please don't risk lives," she wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The #CanyonFire is spreading fast under extreme heat & dry conditions near Ventura–LA County line. If you're in Santa Clarita, Hasley Canyon, or Val Verde, take evacuation orders seriously — when first responders say GO, leave immediately. Keep aware–please don't risk lives. — Supervisor Kathryn Barger (@kathrynbarger) August 7, 2025 The city of Santa Clarita remains on high alert, with emergency officials urging residents to avoid affected zones until further notice. Meanwhile, another major blaze, known as the Gifford Fire, continues to burn northwest of the region, in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, and has already engulfed nearly 100,000 acres. With continued extreme heat and dry conditions forecast in the coming days, the National Weather Service has warned that the situation could become more complex and dangerous across Southern California. view comments First Published: August 09, 2025, 03:13 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
California wildfires: Canyon Fire forces thousands of evacuations north of Los Angeles
The blaze erupted on Thursday afternoon and spread to more than 4,800 acres in a matter of hours, officials say. A new wildfire ignited and spread rapidly in the mountains north of Los Angeles on Thursday, forcing thousands of evacuations. According to fire officials, the Canyon Fire began around 1:30 p.m. local time near Lake Piru and has since scorched more than 4,800 acres. No structures have been burned, and no injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The fire is being fueled by onshore winds that are pushing the blaze east, away from Lake Piru but toward the communities of Hasley Canyon, Hathaway Ranch and Val Verde, officials said. About 250 firefighters have been deployed to the Canyon Fire. As of Friday morning, it was listed as 0% contained. The Canyon Fire is burning north of Castaic Lake, where the Hughes Fire burned more than 10,000 acres and forced tens of thousands of evacuations earlier this year. More than 4,200 people were under mandatory evacuation orders in Los Angeles County as of Thursday night, and another 12,000 were under evacuation warnings. L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger urged residents in the area to heed evacuation orders. 'Extreme heat and low humidity in our north county have created dangerous conditions where flames can spread with alarming speed,' Barger said in a statement to the Associated Press. 'If first responders tell you to leave, go — without hesitation.' Gifford Fire nears 'megafire' status The Canyon Fire is the latest in what has already been a busy wildfire season in California. According to Cal Fire, there are currently 13 active wildfires burning in the state, including the massive Gifford Fire in central California. That fire started north of Santa Maria on Aug. 1 and has scorched more than 99,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest, forcing thousands of evacuations in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. The Gifford Fire will likely become the first fire in California this year to reach 'megafire' status, a term reserved for fires exceeding 100,000 acres. Three civilians and four firefighters have been injured by the fire, according to officials. More than 3,400 firefighters are currently battling the blaze, which was just 15% contained as of Thursday evening. Bone-dry conditions amid an ongoing heat wave are not helping. According to the National Weather Service, parts of central California will see triple-digit highs through the weekend, with relative humidity readings as low as 15%. See more photos of the Canyon Fire below. See more of our photo features on Yahoo News.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
California wildfires live updates: Thousands near LA ordered to evacuate as fast-moving Canyon fire spreads
A fast growing brush fire in a mountainous area north of Los Angeles has forced thousands of people to evacuate as firefighters are working to get it under control. Hundreds of firefighters battled the Canyon Fire overnight after it ignited Thursday afternoon in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, as temperatures hit 100 degrees mixed with strong winds. Officials said good progress had been made overnight as temperatures cooled, but the blaze was at zero percent containment as of Friday afternoon and had spread to 4,856 acres, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the district, urged residents to evacuate. 'Extreme heat and low humidity in our north county have created dangerous conditions where flames can spread with alarming speed,' Barger said in a statement Thursday. 'If first responders tell you to leave, go — without hesitation.' Sunny, hot and dry conditions were expected in the area Friday, with the daytime high near 100 degrees Fahrenheit and minimum humidity in the mid-teens, according to the National Weather Service. The fire is burning just south of Lake Piru, a reservoir located in the Los Padres National Forest. It's close to Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area burned by the Hughes Fire in January.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Climate
- Sydney Morning Herald
Thousands evacuated as bushfire rages north of Los Angeles
Washington: Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes north of Los Angeles as a growing fire tears through bushland and rural properties amid a summer heatwave in Southern California. The Canyon Fire began on Thursday afternoon, local time, near Lake Piru and has burned through nearly 5000 acres across the Ventura and Los Angeles counties, spreading east. Authorities said about 25 per cent of the front line had been contained by late Friday morning (Saturday AEST), but about 2700 people in LA County remained under evacuation orders, with another 14,000 warned they might need to evacuate. LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger urged residents to evacuate when asked. 'Extreme heat and low humidity in our north county have created dangerous conditions where flames can spread with alarming speed,' she said in a statement. 'If first responders tell you to leave, go – without hesitation.' There were no reports of casualties or major property damage, though one firefighter sustained a minor injury and some minor structures had been destroyed, the Associated Press reported. While progress has been made since Thursday night, when the blaze was wholly out of control, fire authorities were still cognisant of the extreme temperatures and prevailing winds. The wind was expected to stick around on Friday, but at a slightly lower magnitude, according to Bryan Lewis, a meteorologist at the weather service's office in Oxnard. The humidity was expected to remain low, and the fuels were very dry and receptive to burning quickly, he said. 'These fires can start and grow pretty rapidly because of how dry everything is and how hot everything is.'
