New wildfire erupts near Los Angeles, prompting mass evacuations

A new wildfire that broke out north of Los Angeles on Wednesday rapidly spread to more than 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares) fuelled by strong winds and dry brush, forcing evacuation orders and warnings for more than 50,000 people.

A new wildfire erupted north of Los Angeles on Wednesday, exploding in size and forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes, in a region already on edge after two deadly blazes.

Ferocious flames were devouring hillsides near Castaic Lake, spreading rapidly to cover more than 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares) in just a few hours.

The fire was being fanned by strong, dry Santa Ana winds that were racing through the area, pushing a vast pall of smoke and dangerous embers ahead of the flames -- sparking fears that it could spread further.

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Mandatory evacuations were ordered for 31,000 people around the lake, which sits around 35 miles (56 kilometers) north of Los Angeles, and close to the city of Santa Clarita.

Another 23,000 people were under evacuation warnings, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said.

"I'm just praying that our house doesn't burn down," one man told broadcaster KTLA as he packed his car.

The fire came with the greater Los Angeles area still suffering after two enormous fires that killed more than two dozen people and destroyed thousands of structures.

Robert Jensen, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, urged everyone in the impacted area of the new blaze -- dubbed the Hughes Fire -- to leave immediately.

"We've seen the devastation caused by people failing to follow those orders in the Palisades and Eaton fires," he said.


Read more on FRANCE 24 English

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