WHITTIER, Calif. — Strong winds and dry brush fueled fast-moving fires in Southern California, threatening to reverse the progress made battling wildfires across the region that have burned over 40,000 acres and killed at least 28 people.
A new brush fire broke out late Wednesday along the eastern side of Interstate 405 in the Sepulveda Pass, near Bel Air and the University of California-Los Angeles. The blaze, dubbed the Sepulveda Fire, prompted evacuation warnings for residents as local television stations showed multiple fire engines on the scene and firefighting helicopters dumping water to combat the fire.
Meanwhile, another blaze, dubbed the Hughes Fire, broke out on Wednesday near Castaic Lake, a reservoir and popular recreation area about 46 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The fire rapidly spread to over 10,000 acres, and much of Southern California remained under red flag warnings through Friday.
Authorities warned people near the Castaic Lake area that they faced an “immediate threat to life.” Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday that about 31,000 people were under mandatory evacuation orders while another 23,000 were under evacuation warnings.
Over 1,100 firefighters had been “strategically pre-positioned” across Southern California to address the “ongoing critical fire weather,” according to Cal Fire. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said more than 4,000 firefighters were battling the Hughes Fire.
A series of wildfires have broken out since Jan. 7 amid ongoing hurricane-force winds, low humidity, and extremely dry air. Fire crews across the region have quickly worked to extinguish smaller brush fires while making progress on the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have damaged or destroyed nearly 16,000 structures, Cal Fire said.
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Hughes Fire expands: ‘The situation remains dynamic’
According to Cal Fire, the Hughes Fire had grown to more than 10,000 acres with 14% containment. No structures had been reported damaged or destroyed.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
“The situation remains dynamic, and the fire remains a difficult fire to contain, although we are getting the upper hand,” said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone during a Wednesday news conference.
One of three facilities at the Pitchess Detention Center evacuated 476 inmates to another facility and was ready to evacuate the remaining 4,500 inmates if conditions worsen, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
The National Weather Service extended the red flag warning for most of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through 10 a.m. Friday. Light to moderate Santa Ana winds will continue into Thursday.
— Jennifer Cortez, USA TODAY Network
