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New wildfire erupts near Los Angeles, 'immediate threat to life' warning issued | N18G

On January 22, a rapidly spreading wildfire broke out 50 miles north of Los Angeles, burning over 3,400 acres and forcing evacuations in the Castaic Lake area. The fire, fueled by dry conditions and strong Santa Ana winds, escalated quickly, with evacuation orders affecting 31,000 people. This new blaze, known as the Hughes Fire, further strained firefighting efforts already focused on two major fires, the Eaton and Palisades Fires. These fires, which had been burning for over two weeks, had already claimed 28 lives and destroyed nearly 16,000 structures. By January 22, the Eaton Fire was 91% contained, and the Palisades Fire was 68% contained. In response to the extreme fire risk, more than 1,000 firefighters were deployed, and much of Southern California remained under red-flag warnings. Despite ongoing efforts, the region's dry conditions and persistent winds continued to fuel the fires, challenging containment efforts.

first published: Jan 23, 2025 04:21 pm