California Los Angeles Wildfires : Hughes fire erupts in Northern LA, over 50,000 residents under evacuation orders

A new wildfire, the Hughes Fire, erupted on Wednesday morning in the rugged mountains north of Los Angeles, rapidly spreading through dry vegetation and sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky. Firefighters are battling flames across 45 square miles of Los Angeles County, with the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fire near Pasadena among the largest blazes still active. More than 50,000 residents in Southern California have been placed under evacuation orders or warnings.

What is the current situation: The death toll from the Los Angeles fires climbed to 28 on Thursday, with nearly 22 individuals still missing and thousands of residents displaced, according to the AP. Firefighters are still grappling with strong winds, gusting up to 42 mph, and predictions suggest they could increase to 60 mph in the coming hours. This volatile weather, coupled with the dry conditions, remains a significant threat to the containment efforts. However, the presence of firefighting aircraft and ground crews has allowed for some containment, especially on the southern side of the fire where flames were spreading rapidly.

How did the wildfires start?
The wildfires erupted during the first week of January, fuelled by powerful offshore winds and extremely dry conditions. The Eaton and Palisades fires, which have been burning for more than two weeks, have claimed at least 28 lives and destroyed over 14,000 structures. These fires remain active, with containment levels reported at 68% for the Palisades Fire and 91% for the Eaton Fire. While the exact cause of the fires remains undetermined, reported NBC, experts attribute the heightened wildfire risk to California’s climate patterns, which oscillate between drought and heavy rainfall.