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9 News
4 days ago
- Climate
- 9 News
Firefighters make progress against blaze near LA that forced thousands to flee
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Firefighters in a mountainous area north of Los Angeles made good progress in their battle against a brush fire that has forced thousands of people to evacuate, officials said on Friday (local time). The Canyon Fire ignited on Thursday afternoon and spread rapidly in the dry, steep terrain in Ventura and Los Angeles counties to more than 22 square kilometers. It was 25 per cent contained as of Friday afternoon, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. 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. (AP) At least 400 personnel battled the blaze along with several planes and helicopters, county fire department public information officer Andrew Dowd said. 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. That fire burned about 39 square kilometers in six hours and put 50,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings. Firefighters battling the Canyon Fire took advantage of lower temperatures overnight to directly attack the fire and made lots of progress, Dowd said. By Friday morning, they were seeing subdued fire behavior, he said. With 100-degree temperatures and strong winds, firefighters faced a 'tough firefight' on Thursday, Dowd said. 'They were putting it all on the line to bring this fire under control,' he said. One firefighter reported a minor injury, but no civilian injuries were reported, Dowd said. No single-family or multi-family residences were destroyed, but two minor structures were destroyed, he said. Sunny, hot and dry conditions were expected on Friday in the area where the Canyon Fire was burning, with the daytime high near 38 degrees Celsius and minimum humidity in the mid-teens, according to the National Weather Service. Winds were expected to be light in the morning and grow from the south to southwest in the afternoon. Firefighters battle the Canyon Fire in Hasley Canyon, California. (AP) The wind was expected to stick around onFriday, 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. Given these conditions, people should be very careful to avoid sparks, he said. 'These fires can start and grow pretty rapidly because of how dry everything is and how hot everything is,' he said. In LA County, around 2,700 residents evacuated with 700 structures under an evacuation order, officials said late on nThursday. Another 14,000 residents and 5,000 structures were covered by an evacuation warning. Areas within the Val Verde zone had been reduced from an order to a warning. The evacuation zones in nearby Ventura County were relatively unpopulated, Dowd said. Fifty-six people were evacuated from the Lake Piru recreation area. 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. 'If first responders tell you to leave, go — without hesitation.' The new blaze comes as a massive wildfire in Central California became the state's largest blaze of the year, threatening hundreds of homes and burning out of control in the Los Padres National Forest. The evacuation zones in nearby Ventura County were relatively unpopulated, Dowd said. Fifty-six people were evacuated from the Lake Piru recreation area. (AP) The Gifford Fire had spread to 402 square kilometers by Friday morning with 15 per cent containment. It grew out of at least four smaller fires that erupted August 1 along State Route 166, forcing closures in both directions east of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000. It has injured at least four people. The causes of the fires are under investigation. Wildfire risk will be elevated through the weekend across much of inland California as a heat wave gripping the area intensifies. August and September are typically the most dangerous months for wildfires in the state. USA California Los Angeles fires wildlife World CONTACT US Auto news: Honda here to stay in Australia, announces growth plans.
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Climate
- Leader Live
Fire crews make progress against blaze that forced thousands to flee north of LA
The Canyon Fire ignited on Thursday afternoon and spread rapidly in the dry, steep terrain in Ventura and Los Angeles counties to more than 7.6 square miles, with no containment by 11pm, according to Ventura County Fire Department. At least 400 personnel battled the blaze along with several planes and helicopters. No further growth was reported on Friday morning, though the fire remained uncontained, county fire department public information officer Andrew Dowd said. The fire is burning just south of Lake Piru, a reservoir in the Los Padres National Forest. It is close by Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area burned by the Hughes Fire in January. That fire burned about 15 square miles in six hours and put 50,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings. Firefighters battling the Canyon Fire took advantage of lower temperatures overnight to directly attack the fire and made a lot of progress, Mr Dowd said, and by Friday morning, they were seeing subdued fire behaviour. 'They were putting it all on the line to bring this fire under control,' he said. One firefighter reported a minor injury, but no civilian injuries were reported, Mr Dowd said. No single-family or multi-family residences were destroyed, but two minor structures were lost, he said. Sunny, hot and dry conditions are expected on Friday in the area where the Canyon Fire was burning, with the daytime high near 38C and minimum humidity in the mid-teens, according to the National Weather Service. Winds are expected to be light and to grow from the south to south west in the afternoon. In LA County, around 2,700 residents left the area with 700 structures under an evacuation order, officials said late on Thursday. Another 14,000 residents and 5,000 structures were covered by an evacuation warning. Areas within the Val Verde zone had been reduced from an order to a warning. The evacuation zones in nearby Ventura County were relatively unpopulated, Mr Dowd said. Fifty-six people left the Lake Piru recreation area. LA County supervisor Kathryn Barger urged residents to leave. '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.' The new blaze comes as a massive wildfire in central California became the state's largest blaze of the year, threatening hundreds of homes and burning out of control in the Los Padres National Forest. The Gifford Fire had spread to 155 square miles by Thursday night with 15% containment. It grew out of at least four smaller fires that erupted on August 1 along State Route 166, forcing closures in both directions east of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000. It has injured at least four people. The causes of the fires are under investigation. Wildfire risk will be elevated through the weekend across much of inland California as a heatwave intensifies. August and September are typically the most dangerous months for wildfires in the state.
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Climate
- Leader Live
Fast-growing brush fire forces thousands to evacuate area north of Los Angeles
The Canyon Fire ignited on Thursday afternoon and grew to more than 7.6 square miles by 11pm, according to Ventura County Fire Department. At least 400 personnel were battling the blaze along with several planes and helicopters. It remained uncontained late on Thursday and was spreading east into Los Angeles County, officials said. The fire is burning just south of Lake Piru, a reservoir in the Los Padres National Forest. It is close by Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area burned by the Hughes Fire in January. That fire burned about 15 square miles in six hours and put 50,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings. Sunny, hot and dry conditions are expected in the area where the Canyon Fire is burning on Friday, with the daytime high near 38C and minimum humidity in the mid-teens, according to the National Weather Service. Winds are expected to be light in the morning and grow from the south to south west in the afternoon. In LA County, around 2,700 residents left the area with 700 structures under an evacuation order, officials said late on Thursday. Another 14,000 residents and 5,000 structures were covered by an evacuation warning. Areas in the Val Verde zone had been reduced from an order to a warning. The evacuation zones in nearby Ventura County were relatively unpopulated, Ventura County Fire Department spokesman Andrew Dowd said on Thursday. Fifty-six people were evacuated from the Lake Piru recreation area. Mr Dowd called the blaze a 'very dynamic situation' caused by hot, dry weather, steep and rugged terrain and dry fuel. LA County supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the district, urged residents to leave. '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.' The new blaze came after a massive wildfire in central California became the state's largest blaze of the year, threatening hundreds of homes and burning out of control in the Los Padres National Forest. The Gifford Fire had spread to 155 square miles by Thursday night with 15% containment. It grew out of at least four smaller fires that erupted on August 1 along State Route 166, forcing closures in both directions east of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 people. It has injured at least four people. The causes of the fires are under investigation. Wildfire risk will be elevated through the weekend across much of inland California as a heatwave gripping the area intensifies. August and September are typically the most dangerous months for wildfires in the state.
News18
4 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.
The Journal
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Journal
Fire crews in Los Angeles making good progress against blaze that forced thousands to flee
FIREFIGHTERS IN A mountainous area north of Los Angeles have made good progress in their battle against a brush fire which has forced thousands of people to evacuate the area, an official said. The Canyon Fire ignited yesterday afternoon and spread rapidly in the dry, steep terrain in Ventura and Los Angeles counties to more than 7.6 square miles, with no containment by 11pm local time, according to Ventura County Fire Department. At least 400 personnel battled the blaze along with several planes and helicopters. No further growth was reported this morning, though the fire remained uncontained, county fire department public information officer Andrew Dowd said. A firefighter battles the Canyon Fire in Hasley Canyon PA PA The fire is burning just south of Lake Piru, a reservoir in the Los Padres National Forest. It is close by Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area burned by the Hughes Fire in January. That fire burned about 15 square miles in six hours and put 50,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings. Firefighters battling the Canyon Fire took advantage of lower temperatures overnight to directly attack the fire and made a lot of progress, Dowd said, and by this morning, they were seeing subdued fire behaviour. 'They were putting it all on the line to bring this fire under control,' he said. Flames from the Gifford Fire race up a hillside in Los Padres National Forest PA PA One firefighter reported a minor injury, but no civilian injuries were reported, Dowd said. Advertisement No single-family or multi-family residences were destroyed, but two minor structures were lost, he said. In LA County, around 2,700 residents left the area with 700 structures under an evacuation order, officials said late yesterday. Another 14,000 residents and 5,000 structures were covered by an evacuation warning. Areas within the Val Verde zone had been reduced from an order to a warning. The evacuation zones in nearby Ventura County were relatively unpopulated, Dowd said. Fifty-six people left the Lake Piru recreation area. LA County supervisor Kathryn Barger urged residents to leave. '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.' A California Department of Corrections fire crew battles the Canyon Fire PA PA The new blaze comes as a massive wildfire in central California became the state's largest blaze of the year, threatening hundreds of homes and burning out of control in the Los Padres National Forest. The Gifford Fire had spread to 155 square miles last night with 15% containment. It grew out of at least four smaller fires that erupted on August 1 along State Route 166, forcing closures in both directions east of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000. It has injured at least four people. The causes of the fires are under investigation. Wildfire risk will be elevated through the weekend across much of inland California as a heatwave intensifies. August and September are typically the most dangerous months for wildfires in the state.
