Tens of thousands evacuated – new fire has broken out

 

Los Angeles
New major fire in Los Angeles – thousands evacuate

Rebecka Rosengart

Updated 00.14 | Published 2025-01-22 21.54

Just a short time after the massive fires in Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles, a new major fire has broken out nearby.

Almost 20,000 people have been forced to evacuate in a few hours, American media reports.

The cause behind the new “Hughes Fire” is still unknown.

A new and large forest fire is raging in Los Angeles County, American media reports. It started on Wednesday morning local time.

The map shows how the fire is moving in an area approximately 80 kilometers north of Los Angeles and around Lake Castaic.

The fire has been named the “Hughes Fire” and has started for an unknown reason.

Nearby residents evacuate

Residents living near the fire were ordered to evacuate their homes and shortly after the fire started, around 19,000 people evacuated.

In an hour and a half, the fire had spread over 3,400 hectares, writes the  New York Times, citing local media.

An area the size of a football field is burning up every two or three seconds, writes CNN.

Smoke over residential area. Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP

Warning for rain – but it will not be enough

At the time the fire broke out, there were reports of strong winds in the area. It was also dry – something that makes it easier for the fire to spread.

However, there is a warning for rain for the weekend. But the amount of precipitation will not be enough to stop the fire.

Shortly after the horror fire

The Hughes fire broke out about two weeks after the  Palisades fire. It started in early January and caused massive damage and several deaths.

The flames in the celebrity-studded neighborhood were described as the largest fire in the city's modern history.

It is still not completely extinguished, according to American media.