Evacuations were ordered Wednesday for isolated communities near a new, fast-moving wildfire in the mountains north of Los Angeles, as Southern California suffered a new round of dangerous winds ahead of possible rain this weekend.
The Hughes Fire broke out late in the morning and quickly ravaged about nine square kilometers of trees and brush, sending a huge plume of black smoke near Castaic Lake, about 40 miles north of the devastating fires in Eaton and Palisades have been burning for a third week. .
Exit ramps along Interstate 5, a major north-south artery, were closed as flames spread along hilltops and down steep canyons. Crews on the ground and aboard water-width aircraft attacked the wind-driven flames.
Meanwhile, in the South, Los Angeles officials were bracing for potential rain, even as some residents were allowed to return to charred areas of Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Gusty winds are expected to continue until Thursday.
“We’re going to see another round of critical fires in Southern California,” National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall said Wednesday morning. “At this point, it sounds like a broken record.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to accelerate cleanup efforts in burned areas and mitigate the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants. She ordered crews to clear vegetation, shore up hillsides and reinforce roads ahead of possible rains.
LA County supervisors also approved an emergency motion to install flood control infrastructure and expedite and remove sediment in fire-affected areas.
“As the fires have subsided, new challenges lie ahead,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said during a news conference Wednesday. “Rain is forecast and the threat of mudslides and debris in our fire-affected communities is real.”
A 60 to 80 percent chance of a small amount of rain was forecast for Southern California starting Saturday, with most areas likely to receive no more than about 0.8 centimeters, according to Ryan Kittell, meteorologist for the Los Angeles Weather Service office. up to about 2.5 centimeters could fall during localized thunderstorms, which would be the worst case if there were enough falls on burned slopes.
“But even if the rain doesn’t materialize this time, it could be a good workout for these communities because it will be a threat they have to deal with for months or years to come,” Kittell said Tuesday.
Fire crews filled sandbags for communities while county workers installed barriers and cleaned pipes and drainage basins.
In 2018, Montecito, a town about 80 miles off the coast from Los Angeles, was ravaged by mudslides after a downpour hit mountain slopes burned by a massive wildfire. Twenty-three people died and hundreds of homes were damaged.
Red flag warnings for critical fire danger were extended until 8 p.m. Thursday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Officials remain concerned that the two major fires, the Palisades and Eaton fires, could breach their containment lines as firefighters continue to monitor hot spots, said David Acuna, a Department of Fire and Safety spokesman. California Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
Strategically positioned fire trucks and water jets allowed crews to quickly extinguish several small fires that erupted in Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside counties, officials said.
Authorities urged residents to review evacuation plans, prepare emergency kits, be alert to fires and report them promptly.
Many Los Angeles residents are now waiting to return to what remains of their homes. But even for those whose homes were spared, health problems from smoke and ash will persist.
Bass also warned that winds could carry ash and advised Angelenos to visit the city’s website to learn how to protect themselves from toxic air during Santa Ana’s latest wind event. Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer warned that the ashes could contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful materials.
“Even brief exposure can potentially cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems,” Ferrer said Wednesday, asking people to wear protective gear when cleaning.
Low humidity, dry vegetation and high winds came as firefighters continued to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out on January 7. 68 percent, and Eaton Fire was at 91 percent.
More than a week into the Los Angeles wildfire crisis, frustration has grown for the tens of thousands of people under evacuation orders. Officials tell them it may be at least another week before they are allowed to check their homes.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday his department was still investigating 22 active missing persons reports in the two fire zones. All of the missing people are adults, he said.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the causes of the fires but has not released any findings.
Several lawsuits have been filed by people who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, alleging that Southern California Edison equipment started the fire. On Tuesday, a judge overseeing one of the lawsuits ordered the utility to produce data from circuits in the area where the fire broke out.
US President Donald Trump, who criticized the response to the wildfires during his inaugural address on Monday, announced he would travel to Los Angeles on Friday. Barger said Wednesday that details of Trump’s visit were still being worked out.
