A new wildfire has erupted close to Los Angeles sparking thousands of evacuation orders.
Ferocious flames from were devouring hillsides near Castaic Lake, spreading rapidly to cover 5,000 acres in just over two hours.
The blaze, named the Hughes fire, was being fanned by strong, dry Santa Ana winds that were racing through the area, pushing a vast pall of smoke and embers ahead of the flames.
Evacuations were ordered for 19,000 people all around the lake, which sits around 35 miles north of Los Angeles, and close to the city of Santa Clarita.
“I’m just praying that our house doesn’t burn down,” one man told broadcaster KTLA as he packed his car.
The greater Los Angeles area is still suffering after two enormous fires which killed more than 24 people and destroyed thousands of structures.
Robert Jensen from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department urged everyone in the impacted area of the new blaze to leave immediately.
“We’ve seen the devastation caused by people failing to follow those orders in the Palisades and Eaton fires,” he said.
“I don’t want to see that here in our community as well. If you’ve been issued an evacuation order, please get out.”
Helicopters and planes dropped a fire retardant on the blaze as firefighters desperately tried to stop it from advancing.
That fleet included two Super Scoopers, enormous amphibious planes that can carry hundreds of gallons of water.
Crews from Los Angeles County Fire Department and Los Angeles National Forest were also attacking the blaze from the ground.
It was not immediately clear what sparked the fire, but it occurred during red flag fire conditions – when meteorologists say strong winds and low humidity create conditions ripe for rapid fire spread.
Meanwhile, to the south, Los Angeles officials were preparing for potential rain even as some residents were allowed to return to the charred Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas.
“We’re going to see another round of critical fire conditions across Southern California,” Todd Hall, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said Wednesday morning. “At this point, it sounds like a broken record.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to expedite clean-up efforts in burn areas and mitigate the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants.
She ordered crews to remove vegetation, shore up hillsides and reinforce roads ahead of the possible rain.
Los Angeles County supervisors also approved an emergency motion to install flood control infrastructure and expedite and remove sediment in fire-impacted areas.
“As the fires have settled, new challenges lie ahead,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said during a Wednesday news conference.
“Rains are in the forecast and the threat of mud and debris flow in our fire-impacted communities is real.”
