The Canyon Fire ignited Thursday afternoon near the Ventura-Los Angeles county border and has since expanded dramatically from 30 acres to nearly 5,000 acres by Friday morning. The Ventura County Fire Department has reported that over 2,700 residents are under mandatory evacuation orders, while an additional 14,000 individuals have received evacuation warnings. The fire is currently about 25% contained.
Extremely high temperatures, expected to reach 100°F (37.7°C) in the following days, are complicating firefighting efforts, according to the National Weather Service. Santa Clarita, one of the nearby cities, is maintaining a state of high alert. City officials are urging locals to avoid areas affected by the fire.
LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger emphasized the urgency on social media, stating, "The #CanyonFire is spreading fast under extreme heat & dry conditions near Ventura—LA County line. If you're in Santa Clarita, Hasley Canyon, or Val Verde, take evacuation orders seriously - when first responders say GO, leave immediately. Keep aware—please don't risk lives."
As of Thursday evening, there are no reported injuries or damages to homes due to the fire, the LA County Fire Department confirmed. The Canyon Fire is one among several wildfires raging across California. The Gifford Fire, currently the largest active blaze, has consumed nearly 100,000 acres across the San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
Experts attribute the increasing frequency and ferocity of wildfires in California to climate change, as hotter and drier conditions prolong fire seasons and escalate their destructive capacity. Earlier in January, the Eaton Fire devastated Altadena, resulting in at least 31 fatalities and the destruction of thousands of structures.
The impacts of wildfires extend beyond immediate danger, with studies suggesting over 400 indirect fatalities linked to wildfires in Los Angeles.
Extremely high temperatures, expected to reach 100°F (37.7°C) in the following days, are complicating firefighting efforts, according to the National Weather Service. Santa Clarita, one of the nearby cities, is maintaining a state of high alert. City officials are urging locals to avoid areas affected by the fire.
LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger emphasized the urgency on social media, stating, "The #CanyonFire is spreading fast under extreme heat & dry conditions near Ventura—LA County line. If you're in Santa Clarita, Hasley Canyon, or Val Verde, take evacuation orders seriously - when first responders say GO, leave immediately. Keep aware—please don't risk lives."
As of Thursday evening, there are no reported injuries or damages to homes due to the fire, the LA County Fire Department confirmed. The Canyon Fire is one among several wildfires raging across California. The Gifford Fire, currently the largest active blaze, has consumed nearly 100,000 acres across the San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
Experts attribute the increasing frequency and ferocity of wildfires in California to climate change, as hotter and drier conditions prolong fire seasons and escalate their destructive capacity. Earlier in January, the Eaton Fire devastated Altadena, resulting in at least 31 fatalities and the destruction of thousands of structures.
The impacts of wildfires extend beyond immediate danger, with studies suggesting over 400 indirect fatalities linked to wildfires in Los Angeles.
