Fires have eroticism blogengulfed 10,000 acres of the Angeles National Forest near Lake Hughes, 60 miles north of Los Angeles, California, with mandatory evacuations in place for the area.
According to the LA County Fire Department, personnel responded to a brush fire in the Pine Canyon and Lake Hughes Road area shortly after 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday. The incident report described “extreme fire behavior and rapid spread in a north-easterly direction.”
The fires continued to grow and spread, according to the fire department, threatening communities in Lake Hughes, Leona Valley, Lake Elizabeth, Pine Canyon, and Three Points. Fire suppression tactics continued through the night with over 500 personnel deployed, including three helicopters, from the Angeles National Forest, LA County, and other cooperating agencies. At the time of writing, 0 percent containmentis reported by Cal Fire.
The below video was filmed by LA County Fire Department photographer Dave Mills and shows the blaze at 9:00 p.m.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
In a press conference, Angeles National Forest fire chief Robert Garcia said the fire around Lake Hughes Road grew extremely quickly from 100 acres to several hundred then several thousand acres within hours. LA County Fire Department chief deputy of emergency operations David Richardson described it as an "early season fire" as far as California's wildfire season goes, and said the fire was "moving with minimum winds." He also noted that the agencies were adhering to COVID-safe guidelines, even on the frontlines of the fire.
Evacuation orders were issued for the area, with evacuation points organized at Highland High School in Palmdale and the Castaic Sports Complex. Evacuation centers have also been organized for small and large animals at the Antelope Valley and Castaic Fairgrounds — you can find the addresses listed here.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Reporters captured scenes from the fire during the night, posting videos to social media. ABC7 weekend anchor and reporter Veronica Miracle was filming somewhere between the fire and Lake Hughes, and posted videos of a fire tornado swirling atop a hill.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
FOX 11 Los Angeles investigative reporter Bill Melugin posted videos showing an enormous wall of glowing fire around the area on Pine Canyon Road, and another of the flames engulfing a hill.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Early Thursday morning, ABC7 eyewitness news reporter Marc Cota-Robles reported light rain in the area, and that several houses have been damaged. NBC reporter Mekahlo Medina reported at least four homes destroyed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
To keep track of the fires and for updates, follow the LA County Fire Department, Red Cross LA, Angeles National Forest, and the LA County Sheriff's Department on Twitter.