California wildfire scorches 1,050 acres in hours: Helicopters, firemen race to contain blaze; thousands ordered to flee

The Canyon Fire started about 60 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, close to Lake Piru, early Thursday afternoon. According to a Ventura County Fire Department representative, the fire was first reported to be consuming around 30 acres, but it quickly spread to an estimated 1,050 acres in a matter of hours.

According to Ventura County emergency response, the Canyon Fire started at 1:30 p.m. and spread to more than 2.3 square miles (6 square kilometers) in just five hours. It was expanding east and was still 0% contained late Thursday afternoon.

As firefighters in Southern California fought to contain a quickly expanding wildfire Thursday afternoon, thousands of homeowners were told to evacuate Ventura County. About 4,200 people and 1,400 buildings in LA County are under an evacuation order, while an additional 12,500 people are under an evacuation alert.

According to Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Andrew Dowd, between 150 and 200 firefighters were on the scene. "We're launching a major first attack. According to him, ground-based firefighters are working in tandem with helicopters and other aerial assistance.

In the Los Padres National Forest, the fire is raging just south of Lake Piru, a reservoir. Lake Castaic, a well-liked recreation facility that was destroyed by the Hughes Fire in January, is nearby. 50,000 people were under evacuation orders or advisories after the fire, which burnt roughly 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) in six hours.

According to the National Weather Service, the Canyon Fire was blazing on a very hot day in Southern California, with temperatures predicted to soar to about 100 degrees in the fire's vicinity and dry conditions that could contribute to the fire's spread. The fire, according to Dowd, was a "very dynamic situation" brought on by dry fuel, steep and rugged terrain, and hot, dry weather.
“Extreme heat and low humidity in our north county have created dangerous conditions where flames can spread with alarming speed," LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a statement. “If first responders tell you to leave, go—without hesitation.”

The new fire in Central California is the state's biggest fire of the year in the Los Padres National Forest. As a heat wave engulfing much of inland California worsens, the risk of wildfire will remain heightened into the weekend. August and September are usually the most hazardous months for wildfires in the state.