Current:Home > FinanceSouthern California wildfire moving 'dangerously fast' as flames destroy homes-LoTradeCoin
Southern California wildfire moving 'dangerously fast' as flames destroy homes
View Date:2024-12-23 21:02:56
Fire crews on Thursday were battling a wildfire that sprang up in Southern California stoked by strong winds, destroying multiple homes and forcing over 10,000 people to flee.
The fast-moving Mountain Fire, which started in Ventura County northwest of Los Angeles on Wednesday morning, has burned nearly 20,000 acres and was 0% contained as of late morning Thursday, according to the state wildfire-fighting agency Cal Fire.
The evacuation area was expanded Thursday morning and now includes 12 zones. Ventura County Fire Capt. Trevor Johnson said suppressing the northeast section of the blaze is the top priority. With 19,643 scorched acres, the fire has grown by more than 5,000 acres since earlier in the morning.
At least two people have been hospitalized for smoke inhalation, officials said. Evacuation orders will remain in place through Thursday, the county said, adding that at least 800 firefighters from across the state were battling the blaze.
"Every helicopter, every fixed-wing aircraft, everything we've been able to get a hold of is here fighting this fire," Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said Wednesday.
Tanker planes were only used to drop water and fire retardant on a limited capacity Wednesday because of the gusty winds, but Fire Capt. Tony McHale said they may be more widely employed Thursday if the winds die down somewhat as expected.
The National Weather Service warned Thursday that critical wildfire weather across the state, fueled by gusty winds and low moisture, would linger for the next few days. Santa Ana winds are expected to hit 30-55 mph and gusts up to 100 mph are possible in mountainous areas through Friday.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday authorized the use of federal funds to help California battle the fire.
Wildfire smoke map: Track fires and red flag warnings across the US
Fire threatens thousands of homes, other buildings
Cal Fire has not yet released an official count of how many homes and other structures were destroyed, but reporters and photographers with the Ventura County Star, part of the USA TODAY Network, witnessed homes burning throughout the day near Camarillo and Somis.
The fire was threatening over 3,500 structures, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday. Photos show firefighters working in huge plumes of smoke and houses completely engulfed, some leveled by the fire.
"Bushes are burning, grass is burning, hedgerows are burning, agricultural fields are burning, and structures are burning," Gardner said. "This fire is moving dangerously fast."
Extreme fire weather across California on Thursday
About 26 million people across California remained under red flag warnings Thursday.
That includes areas along the Interstate 5 corridor and the northern Ventura County mountains through Friday. "Particularly dangerous situation" (PDS) red flag warnings were extended through later Thursday morning in the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, central and southeastern Ventura County Valleys and Ventura County inland, stretching to beaches from Malibu to Oxnard.
"These are extremely critical and highly volatile conditions," the weather service in Los Angeles/Oxnard said. "Any new fires in the Red Flag Warning area – and especially the PDS Red Flag Warning area – will have rapid fire spread, extreme fire behavior, and long-range spotting."
Ventura County officials said power might be proactively shut off to prevent any new fires from sparking during these conditions, and over 90,000 customers were impacted as of Thursday morning.
Contributing: Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY; The Ventura County Star.
veryGood! (946)
Related
- Judith Jamison, acclaimed Alvin Ailey American dancer and director, dead at 81
- Bruce Springsteen postpones all 2023 concerts to treat peptic ulcer disease
- Suspect Jason Billingsley arrested in murder of Baltimore tech CEO Pava LaPere
- Proof Patrick Mahomes Was Enchanted to Meet Taylor Swift After Game With Travis Kelce
- Ariana Grande Shares Dad's Emotional Reaction to Using His Last Name in Wicked Credits
- China’s defense minister has been MIA for a month. His ministry isn’t making any comment
- North Korean leader urges greater nuclear weapons production in response to a ‘new Cold War’
- US guitarist Al Di Meola suffers a heart attack in Romania but is now in a stable condition
- Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin to kick off fundraising effort for Ohio women’s suffrage monument
- Harry Potter's Bonnie Wright Gives Birth, Welcomes First Baby With Husband Andrew Lococo
Ranking
- 'Heretic' spoilers! Hugh Grant spills on his horror villain's fears and fate
- Murder suspect mistakenly released captured after 2-week manhunt
- Sen. Bob Menendez pleads not guilty in federal court to bribery and extortion
- Search for man who police say shot deputy and another person closes schools in South Carolina
- It's Red Cup Day at Starbucks: Here's how to get your holiday cup and cash in on deals
- Shooting incident in Slovak capital leaves 1 dead, 4 injured
- North Carolina’s governor vetoes bill that would take away his control over election boards
- Powerball jackpot soars to $925 million ahead of next drawing
Recommendation
-
Family of security guard shot and killed at Portland, Oregon, hospital sues facility for $35M
-
Hispanic Influencers Share Curated Fashion Collections From Amazon's The Drop
-
Senior Baton Rouge officer on leave after son arrested in 'brave cave' case
-
Powerball jackpot at $850 million for Sept. 27 drawing. See Wednesday's winning numbers.
-
When does Spirit Christmas open? What to know about Spirit Halloween’s new holiday venture
-
Invasive catfish poised to be apex predators after eating their way into Georgia rivers
-
White Sox executive named Perfect Game's new commissioner: 'I want to make a difference'
-
The Turkish government withdraws from a film festival after a documentary was reinstated