A large brush fire in a mountainous region north of Los Angeles has prompted evacuations across two counties, scorching nearly 5,000 acres (around 2,000 hectares), authorities reported Friday. At least 10 zones in Los Angeles and Ventura counties are under evacuation orders, displacing approximately 2,700 residents as of late Thursday night, according to Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Andrew Dowd.
Approximately 400 firefighters have been deployed to contain the blaze, which remains at zero percent containment, Dowd confirmed. The fire broke out amid firefighting efforts against California’s largest wildfire of the year so far, which has been raging for eight days and has consumed more than 99,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest, threatening hundreds of homes.
The latest fire has burned 4,856 acres so far and is spreading rapidly under extreme heat and dry conditions. LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, representing the area, urged residents to follow evacuation orders strictly, especially in Santa Clarita, Hasley Canyon, and Val Verde. She emphasized, “When first responders say GO, leave immediately. Keep aware please don’t risk lives.”
This wildfire season follows a devastating July fire that scorched over 70,000 acres and required hundreds of firefighters to contain. Experts warn that dry brush, high temperatures, and strong winds continue to fuel the fires, raising fears of an especially difficult season in California, which has already experienced deadly wildfires earlier this year, killing 30 people in January.
The widespread wildfires have also contributed to significant economic losses. Zurich-based reinsurance company Swiss Re reported that natural disasters caused $135 billion in global economic damages in the first half of this year, with the Los Angeles wildfires being a major contributor.
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